Ukip deputy leader quits in protest at party’s lurch to far right and embrace of Tommy Robinson

UKIP'S deputy leader resigned today with a furious blast at the party's far-right leader.

Mike Hookem said he could no longer stay in his post because boss Gerard Batten has taken the pro-Brexit party in an extreme direction.

Ukip has cosied up to the likes of Tommy Robinson and promoted an anti-Muslim agenda in recent years.

Mr Hookem, a member of the European Parliament, quit in a letter sent to party officials after Euro polls closed last night.

He said: "I believe Ukip always has been and always should be a libertarian party that encourages and promotes common-sense policies with a broad electoral appeal.

"However, under Mr Batten's leadership, and despite my appeals, Ukip has been derailed from this objective.

"Mr Batten's policy direction and associations have given the mainstream media the ammunition to label our party 'extreme' and 'far-right', accusations I do not believe to be true."

Ukip is likely to lose all its European Parliament seats when election results are announced on Sunday night.

The party has been displaced by the Brexit Party founded by ex-leader Nigel Farage.

Most moderate Ukip officials have followed Mr Farage to the Brexit Party as Mr Batten took Ukip further to the right.

Mr Hookem, 65, had been deputy leader since last year.

He was previously best known for punching fellow Ukip MEP Steven Woolfe during a fight in the European Parliament.

Although he ran for the Commons three times, Mr Hookem always failed to get elected.

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