The “Good Ship Ukip” has been floundering in heavy seas of late, as one wave of bad publicity breaks over it – only to be followed by another - any one of which threatens to sink it!

First of all was the news that somewhere between £100,000 and £700,000 of donations received from the public could not be adequately accounted for by one of its accounting centres. Apparently this matter is still under official investigation.

Then came the staggering news that the allegedly anti-EU party had been fined £1,500 for non-compliance with PPERA regulations and told it must forfeit some £360,000 in illicit donations.

This was followed by the shocking allegation that one of their MEPs had embezzled the taxpayer to the tune of some £40,000 and is the subject of an ongoing official investigation – that is, we understand, also looking closely at the allowance claims of other UKIP MEPS – the suspicion being, apparently, that misuse of EU funds may not be limited to a single individual.

If things were not bad enough the news then broke that UKIP had rejected a pensioner member who wanted to stand as one of their candidates - because he was disabled!

Then came the revelation that UKIP’s MEPs have had a bit of a falling out amongst themselves and that three of them were threatening to leave the deeply troubled party.

Today – David Noakes – until recently a leading figure in UKIP, a contender for the position of leader in last year’s internal elections and – unlike some of that party’s “Top Brass” – a dedicated and sincere Eurosceptic campaigner – has dropped a bombshell!

In an open letter to the UKIP General Secretary, which is now in the public domain, Mr. Noakes has accused a leading Westcountry UKIP official of vote-rigging and sabotage, and further implied that although some senior UKIP officials were aware of the allegations that they did nothing about it! If true, then this - at the very least - casts deep suspicions on the real purpose of this supposedly "anti-EU" party!

The letter can be read below. We have, however, withheld the name of the official in question in fairness to that individual.

Mr. Noakes' letter to UKIP’s General Secretary..

The General Secretary
UK Independence Party
Lextrum House
PO Box 408
Newton Abbott
TQ12 9BG

Dear Sirs,

re: Formal Complaint: name-withheld

On the 6th February I wrote to the NEC with this complaint, and Piers Merchant has now instructed me on the format he will accept. So this is my second attempt.

The remedy I seek is the termination of employment for name-withheld and his ejection from the party for election rigging, and for closing down our branch anti-EU activities.

After the UKIP Falmouth and Camborne AGM in January last year (2006) I wrote to the NEC and others to ask that name-withheld be removed for fixing the election of Chairman. Only Roger Knapman acknowledged my letter.

This year name-withheld election rigging at the F&C AGM on 28th January 2007 was far worse, a summary is attached. This alone would cause for his immediate termination of employment in any democratic party, and I hope that will include UKIP.

Ukippers from Bournemouth to Cheltenham to Cornwall have witnessed name-withheld closing down branch anti-EU activities.

Its bad enough that name-withheld gets his salary from the EU. Its far worse that branches say he is blatantly working for the EU.

Plymouth and Dorset branches resigned en mass because they are fed up with name-withheld’s sabotage of their anti EU activities.

And name-withheld lies to UKIP members at meetings, recently telling us he threw the Plymouth branch out when the reverse was true. He no longer fools much of the South West, where he's been rumbled.

Evidence.

Last year you ignored my request. If you are serious about rooting out name-withheld’s corruption and pro-EU activities, I will send you witness statements from Falmouth and Camborne, set up appointments for you to interview former Dorset and Plymouth Branch members, who will witness that name-withheld is the reason they left, witness how he undermined their anti-EU Branch activities, and how they would rejoin if name-withheld were kicked out.

I will also arrange for you to get witness statements from Bournemouth, Cheltenham and Taunton UKIP members who've had the same experiences.

We have documentary evidence, which we are happy to submit if you take this seriously.

Given the lack of action last year from the NEC over name-withheld, who you seem to be protecting, I'm not optimistic.

Please forward this to the South West Committee if they are better placed to deal with this than you are.

Yours sincerely

David Noakes.
Editor, The Westminster News.
http://www.bnp.org.uk/reg_showarticl...contentID=2113

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"England expects that every man will do his duty"............