Paul Nuttall could 'depose' Nigel Farage as head of EU group if elected UKIP leader

Paul Nuttall - Image credit: European Parliament

Nigel Farage could be forced out as co-president of the European Parliament group he set up, according to reports on Holyrood’s sister site PoliticsHome.

Sources claimed Paul Nuttall will “demand” Farage stands down from his position as head of the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) grouping if he is successful in his bid to claim the party leadership.

The lucrative role sees Farage travel around Europe making keynote speeches on behalf of the faction, which comprises MEPs from UKIP, Italy’s Five Star Movement, the Swedish Democrats and others.  

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But an MEP who is backing former deputy leader Nuttall in the leadership contest dismissed the claims as a “dirty tricks campaign”.

Last night Raheem Kassam, another leadership candidate who is close to Farage, revealed on a Facebook livechat to supporters that Farage faces a battle to keep the job.

He said the top MEP was “under threat” from colleagues in Strasbourg and the “absolutely devastating” struggle could see Farage with “no livelihood, no security”.

“It’s become very evident that if the wrong person wins this race, or rather the right person doesn’t win this race, that these people are going to depose Nigel as the co-president of the EFDD group,” he told fans.

Meanwhile, a source with links to Farage told PoliticsHome: “There is definitely a move that a new leader should take over that chairmanship, and I think Nuttall wants to take over that chairmanship.

“The impression I get is he will get the leadership and demand Nigel Farage stands down."

The source added that comments by Nuttall on Sunday that Farage’s future role would be a “compromise” if he wins the leadership were an allusion to the plot.

But North East Region MEP Jonathan Arnott, who is supporting Mr Nuttall in the leadership race, was quick to dismiss the claims.

“The idea that there is a plan afoot is completely contrary to what Paul is trying to do in his campaign,” he told PoliticsHome.

“He is trying to unite everybody, not trying to mount some sort of coup. I suspect this is just the first shot in a dirty tricks campaign, frankly.”

He added: “I’m slightly surprised that anybody would be talking about this now.

“Who sits where in the European Parliament is hardly the most pressing issue affecting UKIP at the moment. If anyone thinks it is then there’s something wrong.”

Asked about the alleged plot by PoliticsHome, Farage said: “I know nothing about it.”