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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