Ukip leader Gerard Batten accuses Nigel Farage of launching ‘propaganda war’ over Tommy Robinson row The party voted against a motion of no confidence despite Batten drawing criticism for his appointment of the far-right activist

Ukip leader Gerard Batten accused his political foe Nigel Farage of beginning a ‘propaganda war’ after surviving a vote of no confidence over his appointment of Tommy Robinson as an adviser.

He was condemned by some in the party – including former leader Mr Farage – for bringing the controversial far-right activist into the fold.

Mr Farage said that the party was being taken down an extreme-right path and compared it to the fascist British National Party (BNP)

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But the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) said on Sunday it had voted “overwhelmingly” against a motion of no confidence.

Propaganda war

It added, however, that the vote did not mean it endorsed Mr Robinson’s appointment.

Mr Batten tweeted on Monday morning to say that the “gloves are off” and accused Mr Farage of fronting a “propaganda war” against the party.

Nick Ferrari on LBC. The propaganda war against UKIP is in fully cry. Farage trotted out along with a Professor to say we are going down a ‘far right’ path, and apparently we are now ‘Islamophobic’ and ‘anti-semitic’. The establishment gloves are now off. Join us now. Fight back — Gerard Batten MEP (@GerardBattenMEP) December 3, 2018

Nigel Farage failed to get the UKIP MEPs to even have a vote of no confidence in me last Wed in Brussels. He failed to get a vote through at yesterday’s NEC. Now he’s reduced to doing the rounds in the MSM attacking me. My crime? UKIP isn’t disappearing under my leadership. — Gerard Batten MEP (@GerardBattenMEP) December 3, 2018

“The propaganda war against UKIP is in fully cry. Farage trotted out along with a Professor to say we are going down a ‘far right’ path, and apparently we are now ‘Islamophobic’ and ‘anti-semitic’.

The establishment gloves are now off. Join us now. Fight back.”

Fight back

He later added: “Nigel Farage failed to get the UKIP MEPs to even have a vote of no confidence in me last Wed in Brussels.

“He failed to get a vote through at yesterday’s NEC. Now he’s reduced to doing the rounds in the MSM [mainstream media] attacking me. My crime? UKIP isn’t disappearing under my leadership.”

Last month, Mr Farage said he would write to Ukip’s ruling NEC to demand a vote of no confidence to remove Mr Batten as leader, and accused him of damaging both the party and the Brexit cause.

On Sunday, a statement from the party said the vote against a motion of no confidence did not take away from the fact that the ruling body “does not endorse the appointment of Tommy Robinson in any advisory role”.

No endorsement of Robinson

It added: “He is not a Ukip member and through his associations he is barred from joining Ukip.”

Mr Batten previously defended his decision to give Mr Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, a role advising him on rape gangs and prison reform, describing the English Defence League founder as “courageous”.

He denied moving Ukip to the extremes or opening its doors to racists, and told the BBC Mr Robinson would help him turn the party into a “mass movement… a party for ordinary people”.

Mr Robinson is expected to feature prominently in a Brexit march in London two days before the Commons votes on the UK’s EU withdrawal deal.

Ukip said the December 9 march had not been organised by the party, but added: “Members are free to attend should they wish.”