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Ukip expels councillor Rozanne Duncan for 'jaw-dropping' comments made in TV interview Ukip expels councillor Rozanne Duncan for 'jaw-dropping' comments made in TV interview
(about 1 hour later)
Ukip has expelled a councillor for what were described as "jaw-dropping" comments made in a TV interview. The Ukip councillor who first revealed Nigel Farage’s intention to run for a local parliamentary seat has been dramatically expelled from the party amid allegations that she made “jaw dropping” comments in a yet to be broadcast television interview.
A party source told Kent Online that there was no hesitation in expelling Rozanne Duncan, councillor for Thanet, following the comments. Rozanne Duncan, a councillor for Thanet, Kent, has been expelled for “bringing the party into disrepute”, the party said. She has 28 days to appeal the ruling. While the exact remarks have not been disclosed, The Independent understands that Ms Duncan aired her views to a BBC documentary, whose producers then clarified them with the party’s head office. A source told Kent Online that the comments were “jaw-dropping” and left the party with no other choice than to expel her.
It is not known exactly what her remarks were or what programme the interview was for. It has not yet been broadcast. Ms Duncan sat on Thanet District Council in Kent, near South Thanet where Mr Farage plans to stand 0next year. She was one of the first people to make her leader’s intentions known in August when she described Mr Farage’s intent to stand as “the worst-kept secret in town”.
A party spokesperson told Kent Online: "Ukip is expelling Cllr Rozanne Duncan under rule 15 of its constitution for bringing the party into disrepute. She has 28 days to appeal." Rozanne Duncan, a councillor for Thanet, Kent, has been expelled for “bringing the party into disrepute”, the party said. She has 28 days to appeal the ruling. While the exact remarks have not been disclosed, The Independent understands that Ms Duncan aired her views to a BBC documentary, whose producers then clarified them with the party’s head office. A source told Kent Online that the comments were “jaw-dropping” and left the party with no other choice than to expel her.
When approached by The Independent, the party declined to add anything further to the statement. Ms Duncan sat on Thanet District Council in Kent, near South Thanet where Mr Farage plans to stand 0next year. She was one of the first people to make her leader’s intentions known in August when she described Mr Farage’s intent to stand as “the worst-kept secret in town”.
Just last week, Ukip parliamentary candidate Kerry Smith was forced to step down after being recorded using racist language. Previously a Conservative, Ms Duncan was elected in her constituency after a by-election in May 2013. One Conservative source told The Independent that her expulsion from Ukip came as “little surprise”. “She had a chequered history during her time with us and was never too far from saying something she shouldn’t,” he said.
Cllr Duncan was elected to Thanet council for Cliftonville East ward in 2013, after a by-election triggered by the jailing of former council leader Sandy Ezekiel. She was one of two Ukip members on the council. The development is the latest headache for Mr Farage whose party has been embroiled in a string of inescapable controversies this month. Last week he came out to defend Kerry Smith, one of his parliamentary candidates who stood down shortly after the emergence of taped remarks in which he used derogatory terms about homosexuals and Chinese people. Meanwhile the party's general secretary Roger Bird is waiting to hear of his fate after being suspended from the party following allegations that he behaved inappropriately towards new activist Natasha Bolter who has also quit.
Craig Mackinlay, Conservative candidate for South Thanet, said: "Ukip is the party that just keeps on giving, there seems to be something every week. Finding out what was actually said is the bit I'm looking forward to. Ukip don't throw people out, they usually let them get away with it. For her to have been thrown out this must have been very bad."
Ms Duncan did not respond to calls to her home last night. A Ukip spokesman said: "Ukip is expelling Cllr Rozanne Duncan under rule 15 of its constitution for bringing the party into disrepute. She has 28 days to appeal." He would not be drawn further on the nature of what was said.