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| Nigel Farage: UKIP's 100% united ahead of EU referendum | Nigel Farage: UKIP's 100% united ahead of EU referendum |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nigel Farage says UKIP is "100% united" ahead of its EU referendum battle after two senior figures left their roles in the party. | Nigel Farage says UKIP is "100% united" ahead of its EU referendum battle after two senior figures left their roles in the party. |
| Patrick O'Flynn has quit as economics spokesman after a personal attack on the leader, while Suzanne Evans is no longer head of policy. | Patrick O'Flynn has quit as economics spokesman after a personal attack on the leader, while Suzanne Evans is no longer head of policy. |
| Mr Farage said Ms Evans' contract had expired and he had "other plans" for her role within the party. | Mr Farage said Ms Evans' contract had expired and he had "other plans" for her role within the party. |
| "One or two regrettable things" had been said by party figures, he said. | "One or two regrettable things" had been said by party figures, he said. |
| He added that the comments had been made by a small number of people since the election "pressure cooker" atmosphere. | He added that the comments had been made by a small number of people since the election "pressure cooker" atmosphere. |
| 'Big myth' | 'Big myth' |
| BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said some UKIP figures privately thought Mr Farage lacked the broader appeal to lead the party during the referendum campaign. | BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said some UKIP figures privately thought Mr Farage lacked the broader appeal to lead the party during the referendum campaign. |
| "The departures would also seem to deprive the party of two of its most effective spokesmen, whose quieter manner was thought to have widened UKIP's appeal," he added. | "The departures would also seem to deprive the party of two of its most effective spokesmen, whose quieter manner was thought to have widened UKIP's appeal," he added. |
| The UKIP leader also hit back at back at the Confederation of British Industry - which has spoken out against a vote to leave the EU in the referendum promised by 2017 - saying the organisation had previously argued to join the Euro. | The UKIP leader also hit back at back at the Confederation of British Industry - which has spoken out against a vote to leave the EU in the referendum promised by 2017 - saying the organisation had previously argued to join the Euro. |
| "They were wrong about that and I think they are wrong about this," he said, adding that it was a "really big myth" that the UK could not trade with the EU if it exited the union. | "They were wrong about that and I think they are wrong about this," he said, adding that it was a "really big myth" that the UK could not trade with the EU if it exited the union. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said Prime Minister David Cameron's bid to renegotiate powers before the referendum would be an "attempted great stitch up" with "cosmetic" changes presented. | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said Prime Minister David Cameron's bid to renegotiate powers before the referendum would be an "attempted great stitch up" with "cosmetic" changes presented. |
| "Mr Cameron cries victory and on the basis of that we are suppose to support him in the referendum," he predicted. | "Mr Cameron cries victory and on the basis of that we are suppose to support him in the referendum," he predicted. |
| Mr O'Flynn, an MEP for the East of England, apologised to Mr Farage for calling him "snarling, thin-skinned and aggressive". | Mr O'Flynn, an MEP for the East of England, apologised to Mr Farage for calling him "snarling, thin-skinned and aggressive". |
| European Parliament | European Parliament |
| Meanwhile, Ms Evans has confirmed she was no longer the party's policy chief. | Meanwhile, Ms Evans has confirmed she was no longer the party's policy chief. |
| Mr Farage said Ms Evans was "potentially a great electoral asset". | Mr Farage said Ms Evans was "potentially a great electoral asset". |
| "There's no question that she is a very able woman." he said, but would not comment on whether she was a potential leader. | "There's no question that she is a very able woman." he said, but would not comment on whether she was a potential leader. |
| In the European Parliament, some EU politicians referred to Mr Farage's resignation as party leader - which was subsequently reversed - during a debate on migration. | In the European Parliament, some EU politicians referred to Mr Farage's resignation as party leader - which was subsequently reversed - during a debate on migration. |
| Guy Verhofstadt, the ALDE group leader, said: "Nigel Farage has sent a letter to Nigel Farage saying 'I resign', and Nigel Farage has responded to Nigel Farage saying 'I refuse'". | Guy Verhofstadt, the ALDE group leader, said: "Nigel Farage has sent a letter to Nigel Farage saying 'I resign', and Nigel Farage has responded to Nigel Farage saying 'I refuse'". |
| EPP group leader Manfred Weber told Mr Farage: "You said you'd resign, and yet you are still here. You broke all your promises." | EPP group leader Manfred Weber told Mr Farage: "You said you'd resign, and yet you are still here. You broke all your promises." |
| Responding, the UKIP leader said there was a "hint of nervousness" among his European colleagues, saying the UK's referendum would trigger a "fundamental debate on the existence of this union and the need for it in the modern world". |