In recent months there has been a factional war within UKIP (United Kingdom Independence Party) over whether Tommy Robinson should be invited to join the party. As far as I can tell, there is a difference of opinion between Nigel Farage, the former leader of the party, and Gerard Batten, the current leader. Or it may be a disagreement over the most prudent tactics — it’s hard to say.

In any case, Gerard Batten has now finessed the issue by appointing Tommy to an advisory position, which does not require that he be a member of the party. Below are excerpts from the report in The Daily Mail:

Tommy Robinson gets UKIP job Ex-EDL leader who nearly wrecked child abuse trial will advise party on rape gangs and prison conditions — despite not being a member Far-right leader Tommy Robinson has been appointed a ‘special adviser’ to UKIP on rape gangs and prison conditions. Robinson, 35, who was jailed and then freed this year after allegedly jeopardising the trial of a gang of child abusers with a live Facebook video, will work as an aide of UKIP leader Gerard Batten. Senior UKIP figures have clashed over Robinson’s potential role in the party, with ex-leader Nigel Farage warning it faced ‘total and utter marginalisation’ if it allowed the EDL founder into the movement. Robinson — whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon — is not yet a member of the party. Mr Batten said in a statement tonight: ‘I have appointed Tommy Robinson to be a Personal Special Advisor on two subjects which he has great knowledge. ‘It is not necessary for him to be a Party member in order to assist me in this role. I am looking forward to working with him’. Mr Batten, the Eurosceptic party’s seventh leader in two years, has previously spoken out in support of Robinson.

Read the rest in The Daily Mail.

Hat tip: Pierre Picaud.