Ukip MEP vows to fight expulsion over expense fraud claims

Ukip MEP Janice Atkinson has been expelled for bringing the party into disrepute over allegations of bogus expense claims.

The politician’s chief of staff Christine Hewitt has also been removed from the party.

Read more: Ukip disarray as would-be MPs suspended and another quits

Ms Hewitt was filmed by the Sun allegedly obtaining an invoice from a restaurant for a sum more than three times the actual cost of an event, apparently with the intention of claiming it back from Brussels funds.

The footage is being reviewed by Kent and Essex police forces’ serious crime directorate.

‘Disrepute’

“Janice Atkinson MEP and Christine Hewitt have been found to have brought the party into disrepute,” a party spokesman said.

“As a result they have been expelled from UK Independence Party. They have 14 days to appeal.”

Ms Atkinson said she was “deeply disappointed by today’s decision and fully intend to appeal” – and signalled her intent to continue as an elected UK representative in the European parliament.

“I was elected to represent the constituents of the south east of England and I will continue to work tirelessly on their behalf and for the best interests of our country,” she said.

Ms Atkinson had been due to challenge the Conservatives in Folkestone and Hythe on 7 May.

Speaking on LBC radio on Friday, party leader Nigel Farage called it “one of the most incredibly stupid and dishonest things I’ve ever seen in my life.”

‘Overcharge them slightly’

According to the Sun, one of Ms Atkinson’s staff members, Christine Hewitt, told the manager of the restaurant in question: “The idea is we overcharge them slightly because that’s the way of repatriating (the money).”

The £950 food and drink expense for the event, held before Ukip’s recent spring conference in Margate, was paid by credit card according to the report, which said costs had been agreed in advance by email.

But it is alleged that Ms Hewitt negotiated for, and accepted, an invoice for £3,150, made out to the Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe (ADDE), a newly-formed grouping of right-wing parties.