Sebastian Payne

Nigel Farage overruled by Ukip NEC on Short money

The row in Ukip over parliamentary Short money has finally been resolved. Guido reports that Douglas Carswell, the party’s sole MP, has been advertising for a £60k per annum speechwriter, funded out of public money. This is the first indication that Ukip is setting itself up as a proper Westminster party through use of Short money.

To recap, the disagreement began after the general election, when a divide opened up between Carswell and Ukip HQ over whether to use some or all of the money allotted to it as an opposition party — known as Short money. Some kippers were keen take all of the available £670k, while Carswell was pushing for a more restrained approach.

In response to the briefing war, Nigel Farage took to Question Time and said the party wouldn’t be taking any public money — with rumours abound that one of Ukip’s big backers would fill their coffers:

‘I’m going to recommend that we don’t accept any of it.

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