Brexit Party MEP has whip withdrawn over ‘unacceptable’ behaviour Nigel Farage said he wanted to maintain the highest possible standards within the Brexit Party

Brexit party MEP Andrew England Kerr has had the whip withdrawn by the party because of a “likely conflict of interest”.

A spokesperson confirmed Andrew England Kerr is no longer a member of the party led by Nigel Farage.

A statement said: “This is due to irreconcilable differences regarding a likely conflict of interest.”

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The exact details of the nature of the conflict have not been revealed. However, Nigel Farage told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge he had acted in an “unacceptable” way and was “not happy” with comments made by Mr England Kerr about a business he had direct financial investment in.

A business shareholder

The 61-year-old is a director of a law firm and qualified solicitor who represents the West Midlands. He’s a senior partner at Englands Estate Agents, where his wife is company director.

Speaking on Sky News, Mr Farage said: “He is an MEP but he is also a shareholder in several businesses.

“In our view one or two of the things he has said and done as an MEP could be seen, potentially, to have brought him personal gain through his business. That to us is just not acceptable.”

A stake in Europe

Mr England Kerr was one of 29 Brexit Party politicians elected to the EU’s European Parliament in May’s elections.

In his role in the European Union, Mr England Kerr sits as a member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.

He’s also part of the EU’s Delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan, EU-Kyrgyzstan, EU-Tajikistan and EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, and for relations with Turkmenistan and Mongolia.

His register of interests in the European Parliament also lists him as director of men’s clothing firm Waterside Manufacturing Ltd.

He has declared shareholding large enough to give “significant influence” in Birmingham estate agency Englands Harbone Ltd, where he was formerly a director. He also has significant holdings in Englands Safety and Waterside Manufacturing.

The Brexit Party has not indicated if any of these firms are related to the accusations held against Mr England Kerr.

The highest possible standards

Mr Farage continued: “Some will say that we have acted harshly but we want to have the highest possible standards and we are not happy with what he’s done.

“He has acted in a way as an MEP, making comments about a business and a product that he has a direct financial investment in and we think that is unacceptable.”

According to The New European, Mr England Kerr was scheduled to appear on the BBC’s Sunday Politics Midlands, but reportedly cancelled at the last minute.

He remains an MEP, but losing the whip means he will no longer be able to stand for the party at a future election, as he is now an independent.