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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/29/ukip-causes-premier-league-clash-with-choice-of-new-logo
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Ukip causes Premier League clash with choice of new logo | Ukip causes Premier League clash with choice of new logo |
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Ukip’s attempt to rebrand itself for the post-Brexit era experienced an early hiccup on Friday after a new party logo bearing a lion’s head prompted reports the Premier League was investigating whether it wast too close to their emblem. | |
The logo replaces the longstanding yellow and purple pound symbol, and was chosen by party members at Ukip’s annual conference in Torquay. | |
But its unveiling brought immediate comparisons with the Premier League’s logo, which shows a similar-looking lion’s head. | |
The league said it had no immediate comment, but it is understood that their internal legal team are aware of the issue and looking into any potential breach of copyright. | |
Gary Lineker re-tweeted the new logo with an eye-rolling emoji and the message: “The Premier League will be thrilled.” | |
The @premierleague will be thrilled. 🙄 https://t.co/GWXBcjL5vH | |
A Ukip spokesman commented: “Gary Lineker is a very well-known, somewhat sanctimonious, extremely well-paid TV celebrity who has his own opinions.” | |
Ukip’s chairman, Paul Oakden, said the party was not concerned. “We did our due diligence before we put these logos to the membership and as I said, we are perfectly comfortable,” he told BBC Two’s Daily Politics. | |
The lion logo was chosen from a shortlist of two – the other featured stylised yellow and purple swooshes – at the conference. It is accompanied by the text, “Ukip, for the nation”. | |
Steve Crowther, Ukip’s interim leader until a full-time replacement for Paul Nuttall is announced on Friday afternoon, said the two logos had been agreed by the party’s national executive. | Steve Crowther, Ukip’s interim leader until a full-time replacement for Paul Nuttall is announced on Friday afternoon, said the two logos had been agreed by the party’s national executive. |
The lack of a pound symbol brought some boos and shouts from the audience, but Crowther said it was time to modernise the party’s message in the wake of the Brexit referendum. | The lack of a pound symbol brought some boos and shouts from the audience, but Crowther said it was time to modernise the party’s message in the wake of the Brexit referendum. |
In a speech to the conference, Crowther said Nigel Farage, the party’s former leader and still a key figure, would not consider returning to the post. | |
He said: “Now we face a new challenge to prove that we have a future post-Brexit and post-Farage. | He said: “Now we face a new challenge to prove that we have a future post-Brexit and post-Farage. |
“If we can’t create a dynamic and attractive political party without him at the helm we don’t deserve to call ourselves a political party.” | “If we can’t create a dynamic and attractive political party without him at the helm we don’t deserve to call ourselves a political party.” |
The new leader will be announced at about 5pm on Friday from a seven-strong candidate list in what is forecast to be an extremely tight race. | The new leader will be announced at about 5pm on Friday from a seven-strong candidate list in what is forecast to be an extremely tight race. |
One of the favourites, Anne Marie Waters, could badly split Ukip if she wins. Several insiders say they fear such a tight contest could favour the limited but fervent support base of Waters, whose pitch is largely based on her extreme views on Islam, a faith she has described as evil. | |
Waters, a co-founder of the UK branch of the anti-Islam group Pegida, is open about her ambition to move the party to a form of cultural nationalism based around religious intolerance. | Waters, a co-founder of the UK branch of the anti-Islam group Pegida, is open about her ambition to move the party to a form of cultural nationalism based around religious intolerance. |
She has close links to the far right and has received help in her campaign from Jack Buckby, formerly a prominent member of the British National party, who has spent time in the openly racist group Liberty GB. | She has close links to the far right and has received help in her campaign from Jack Buckby, formerly a prominent member of the British National party, who has spent time in the openly racist group Liberty GB. |
Other favourites include London Assembly members Peter Whittle and David Kurten, and former solider Henry Bolton. | Other favourites include London Assembly members Peter Whittle and David Kurten, and former solider Henry Bolton. |
Some senior figures at the party conference said they believed the race was likely to come down to a contest between Waters and Whittle. | Some senior figures at the party conference said they believed the race was likely to come down to a contest between Waters and Whittle. |
The new leader will be the party’s fourth inside a year. Under Nuttall’s six-month tenure the party won fewer than 600,000 votes in the general election in June, against almost 4m in 2015. | The new leader will be the party’s fourth inside a year. Under Nuttall’s six-month tenure the party won fewer than 600,000 votes in the general election in June, against almost 4m in 2015. |