The politicos
Raheem Kassam, adviser to Nigel Farage
Kassam is a former managing editor of the rightwing news website Breitbart, who was poached by Ukip in October last year. He has been one of Farage’s most trusted advisers during the campaign and one of the few who is able to speak for the leader personally. Farage praised him personally after the defeat for his use of social media in the campaign. However, Kassam clashed with a number of key Ukip figures, including Douglas Carswell and much of the press office.
Kassam was undoubtedly one of those Patrick O’Flynn was referring to when the MEP criticised the aggressive, rightwing Tea Party tendency around the leader. Unafraid to take risks, the aide was in favour of “shock and awe” attention-seeking tactics, such as Farage’s comments about foreigners with HIV, and warnings about African migrants from the Mediterranean ending up in the UK. He moved to South Thanet in the final few months of the campaign to oversee Farage’s election efforts personally.
Matthew Richardson, party secretary
An ally of Kassam, he has now offered his resignation in the midst of the furore. He is one of the others in Farage’s inner circle being targeted as one of the Tea Party tendency. A City barrister, he used to be a member of the Young Britons’ Foundation, the Tory “madrasa” for young rightwing politicians.
Chris Bruni-Lowe, data and campaigns expert
Ukip recruited Bruni-Lowe to bring some campaigning expertise to the party. He co-founded the “people’s pledge” campaign gathering support for an EU referendum and worked for several Conservatives before joining Ukip. As Farage’s agent in South Thanet, he was with the Ukip leader for much of the campaign. At that time, he appeared certain Farage would win the seat.
Steve Crowther, party chairman
The chairman of the party is the main man organising the party behind the scenes, and takes on an enforcer role for Farage. Born in Devon, he spent 30 years in London working as a journalist and businessman before returning west.
Patrick O’Flynn, economics spokesman
The former Daily Express political journalist joined Ukip as its communications director. However, he was undermined by his suggestion that the party could bring in a tax on luxury goods, later disowned by Farage. The MEP was influential during the election campaign, offering his thoughts on the leaders’ debate and interviews, but his influence was limited by the fact he was not at Farage’s side in South Thanet.
Douglas Carswell, Ukip MP
Carswell is an independent thinker who defected to Ukip from the Tories last summer. He has however frequently parted views with Farage, expressing discomfort about the position on foreigners with HIV being refused treatment and any discrimination between Christian and non-Christian refugees from north Africa. In recent days, he has denied speculation that he could rejoin the Tories, after refusing to accept demands from Farage’s team, that the party accept £650,000 a year in public funding for his office. Carswell’s argument is that some should be handed back because he does not need all that cash.
Paul Nuttall, deputy party leader
Nuttall is the party’s main man in the north of England, and has been tipped to be a potential successor to Farage. He has given a good account of himself in his appearances on BBC’s Question Time, although Ukip’s critics often point to some of his rightwing remarks about the NHS. He is thought to be still on Farage’s side but he has not yet made his public position clear.
Suzanne Evans, head of policy and deputy chairman
Evans is a former Conservative councillor who has taken charge of the party’s manifesto following the resignation of Tim Aker. She was praised for having done a professional job on the fully-costed manifesto and has been considered an ally of Farage. He named her as the best candidate to be caretaker leader when he briefly stepped down as leader last week, before “un-resigning”. However, she is now thought to be on the side of the “plotters”.
Paul Lambert, director of communications
The former BBC producer is an institution in Westminster, having covered UK politics for years, and has built up excellent relationships with journalists, particularly the broadcasters. However, he was not and has never been in Farage’s inner circle.
Gawain Towler, head of press
Towler is a well-liked figure who has played a key part in Ukip’s communications for many years. He was part of the sidelined press operation in HQ that lost access to Farage during the campaign.
The money men
Andrew Reid
Reid has not yet declared for either side. He is founder of the law firm RMPI and sits on the national executive committee.
Stuart Wheeler
A deeply Eurosceptic spread-betting tycoon and former Tory donor, Wheeler is said to have been annoyed by the sidelining of controversial politician Neil Hamilton, who did not get a Ukip seat. Unexpectedly, he came out against Farage continuing as leader on Thursday. He has given at least £600,000 to the party.
Arron Banks
Another former Conservative supporter and businessman, Banks is firmly in the pro-Farage camp. He began donating to Ukip at the party’s autumn conference, upping his contribution to £1m in fury at the Conservatives downplaying his donations to them.
