Fresh blow for Nigel Farage as Scotland’s only Brexit Party MEP quits
3 min read
A Brexit Party MEP has quit over its "failures" to represent Leave voters and because it had allowed a candidate who posted homophobic views online to run for next month's general election.
Louis Stedman-Bryce’s resignation comes a week after he quit as a general election candidate in protest at Nigel Farage's decision not to contest Tory-held seats.
The party's only MEP in Scotland, who was elected just six months ago, said he was "saddened" to be quitting but had been left with no choice.
“This is because I find myself in a situation where my personal values are in direct conflict with those of the party and this for me is an area where I cannot and will not compromise," he added in a video statement posted on Twitter.
“Almost a quarter of a million people in Scotland voted for the Brexit Party to represent them here in the European Parliament and to ensure Scotland had a voice in the Brexit debate.
“Unfortunately I feel the party has repeatedly failed to deliver on either of those promises.”
Mr Stedman-Bryce also spoke of feeling “betrayed” that the party had selected a “homophobic”general election candidate in Glenrothes.
That is understood to be a reference Victor Robert Farrell, who the party bosses were forced to distance themselved from over comments he apparently made on Facebook.
One said: “Western nations look at your hands. Young lesbians in parliament, old lesbians leading political parties. Perverts pushing sodomite rights. The aged living in fear...”
"LGBTQ - whatever you are. I now publicly confrim [sic] that in response to your never ending attacks. I am now AT WAR WITH YOU ALL."
Mr Stedman-Bryce added: "The Brexit Party’s recent decision to select a Scottish candidate who has openly posted homophobic views across social media is not only a betrayal of the LGBT community but also a betrayal of everyone who believes that such divisive and hateful views have no place in our society.
“While the Brexit party’s position on Brexit may have changed mine has not and I remain committed to Brexit and to the people of Scotland who voted for me and I will fight on unhindered as an independent MEP to ensure our voice is heard.”
Announcing his decision to quit as a general election candidate last week, the MEP said: "I joined the Brexit Party to change politics for good and uphold democracy and I do not trust Boris Johnson to deliver the type of Brexit I voted for.
"I believe that the deal he has proposed would be devastating to our country and our future prosperity.
"So it is with a heavy heart that I have taken the decision not to run in the upcoming general election. Whilst I supported a localised agreement with the Tories in Scotland to help prevent the onslaught of the SNP, I cannot support standing down PPC's across all Tory seats."
A Brexit Party spokesman said: "The Brexit Party cut ties with Victor Farrell almost as soon as his comments came to light.
"We are sad to see Louis Stedman-Bryce go and we will always oppose bigotry and fight for a proper Brexit."
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