{"id":386271,"date":"2018-11-23T17:03:15","date_gmt":"2018-11-23T16:03:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/farage-slams-batten-over-appointment-of-tommy-robinson-as-party-adviser-rt-uk-news\/"},"modified":"2018-11-23T17:03:15","modified_gmt":"2018-11-23T16:03:15","slug":"farage-slams-batten-over-appointment-of-tommy-robinson-as-party-adviser-rt-uk-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/farage-slams-batten-over-appointment-of-tommy-robinson-as-party-adviser-rt-uk-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Farage slams Batten over appointment of Tommy Robinson as party adviser \u2014 RT UK News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Nigel Farage has launched a scathing attack on UKIP leader Gerard Batten, telling him he should stand down as leader, after being left \u201cappalled\u201d at the party\u2019s decision to appoint far-right activist Tommy Robinson as an adviser.<\/p>\n

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English Defence League (EDL) founder and anti-Islam campaigner Tommy Robinson, who is not a UKIP member, will advise the party on \u2018rape gangs\u2019 and prison reform, the Mirror reports.<\/p>\n

During his LBC radio show, Farage labelled Batten \u201cshameful\u201d<\/em> and claimed he would be writing to UKIP\u2019s national executive committee (NEC), urging them to call a vote of no-confidence in the leader, in a bid to \u201cget rid of him.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Batten has taken to social media to fire back at Farage, accusing him of an about-face on his attitude towards UKIP\u2019s ruling body.<\/p>\n

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Nigel Farage has reportedly said on the radio this morning that the NEC should hold a vote of no confidence in me. This is the same NEC Nigel described as \u2018low grade people\u2019 and a \u2018swamp that needed to be drained\u2019. I will be in the media today commenting https:\/\/t.co\/pKhYGJUmse<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Gerard Batten MEP (@GerardBattenMEP) November 23, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Batten, who has declared he is planning a Brexit march with Robinson \u2013 real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon \u2013 next month, insists the EDL founder has \u201cgreat knowledge\u201d<\/em> on the subjects of grooming gangs and prisons.<\/p>\n

In turn, Farage accused Batten of being obsessed with Robinson, who still faces potential imprisonment should his upcoming retrial find him guilty of contempt of court. The Brexiteer argued that hiring the controversial activist would destroy the notion that UKIP rejects racism.<\/p>\n