UK Independent Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage addresses the media in London on May 3, 2013. Senior UK Independence Party (UKIP) MEP Mike Nattrass quit the party on Thursday, accusing Farage of running a "totalitarian" regime. (AFP/File)
LONDON (AFP) – Senior UK Independence Party (UKIP) MEP Mike Nattrass quit the party on Thursday, accusing leader Nigel Farage of running a "totalitarian" regime.
Former deputy party leader Nattrass told Channel 4 News that Farage was only selecting "cronies" to stand as candidates for next year's European elections.
"The process has been totally gerrymandered and fixed," he said.
"I belong to a party that now is totalitarian and it will not let the voter speak, because not only have they decided who will stand, they have also decided that the party members who should have a free vote will not get a free vote."
He argued that Farage was an "excellent frontman" but a "very bad leader".
"He only wants people in the party who absolutely and totally agree with him, so I'm regarded as a troublemaker," he added.
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