Janice Atkinson: Expelled MEP appeals UKIP decision

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-32206590

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MEP Janice Atkinson has lodged an appeal against the decision to expel her from UKIP for "bringing the party into disrepute".

She was thrown out in March after allegations a member of her staff tried to arrange a false receipt for a meal.

The South East MEP was also replaced as the general election candidate for Folkestone and Hythe after the claims were published in The Sun newspaper.

A spokesman for Ms Atkinson confirmed she lodged an appeal over the weekend.

Ms Atkinson and her assistant, Christine Hewitt, who was also expelled from the party following a disciplinary hearing, were given 14 days to appeal.

In March, The Sun published a secret recording appearing to show Ms Hewitt asking the manager of a restaurant in Margate, Kent, for an invoice for a much higher sum than the bill she had received.

The BBC has not been able to contact Ms Hewitt for a comment.