Another UKIP candidate quits after David Coburn compares Muslim politician to terrorist
Another UKIP candidate has quit, condemning the party’s failure to sack MEP David Coburn for comparing a Muslim politician to a terrorist.
David Coburn – who is the party’s most senior openly gay politician and its leader in Scotland – shrugged off calls to resign last month after ‘jokingly’ comparing SNP Minister Humza Yousaf to convicted terrorist Abu Hamza.
Prospective MP Tim Wilson quit the party last week, citing Coburn’s comments as his motivation for standing down – and now a second PPC has thrown in the towel.
NHS surgeon Dr Jon Stanley – who had been set to challenge senior Liberal Democrat Tim Farron in the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency – has stepped down.
Dr Stanley lashed out at Mr Coburn’s poor leadership, telling the Scotsman this week: “In the Scottish party for a long time there has been a very sectarian agenda and a very undemocratic agenda.
“Since then it has been very much run by central office and by the party chairman. There has been no accountability and numerous complaints by people, including myself, have been completely ignored.”
He added that Mr Coburn’s joke was “the final straw”, adding: “This was the time for him to be slapped down properly… but that didn’t happen.”
It is understood that Dr Stanley has rejoined the Conservatives, under out Scottish leader Ruth Davidson.
Nigel Farage has refused to discipline Mr Coburn over his comments, saying previously: “People do make mistakes. I don’t think David Coburn should have done that. But am I going to get terribly exercised about it? No.”
