Ukip leader Nigel Farage confirms former deputy leader Suzanne Evans suspended from the party
Ukip leader Nigel Farage has sacked former Ukip deputy leader Suzanne Evans – again.
Farage told the BBC today that Evans been suspended from the eurosceptic party for six months.
"Sometimes people fall out with their own party and sometimes say and do things that perhaps they shouldn't," Farage said.
In a statement on her Facebook page this afternoon, Evans, said she was "stunned and distressed" by her suspension.
A Ukip spokesman said:
"A disciplinary panel constituted by the UKIP National Executive Committee today heard a complaint against Suzanne Evans that she had publicly criticised a fellow candidate in breach of the party rules and in terms which contravene the party constitution.
"The panel resolved to suspend her membership of the party for six months. The decision may be subject to appeal.
"Ms Evans sought an injunction in the High Court today to prevent the hearing, but this was unsuccessful."
Guido Fawkes first reported earlier today that Evans filed a request at the High Court for an injunction against Ukip to stop them from suspending her, publishing documents apparently showing that Evans alleged Ukip donor Arron Banks had a "vendetta" against her.
Evans, a former Conservative councillor, joined Ukip in 2013. She went on to be deputy chairman and head of policy for the party. She wrote the Ukip manifesto ahead of last year's General Election and was designated as Farage's replacement after he briefly resigned following the General Election, but soon fell out with the reinstated Farage after saying last June that the Ukip leader was "divisive" and may hamper the leave campaign in the run-up to the referendum on Britain's European Union membership.
At the time, a leaked Ukip email indicated that Evans was stripped of her title as a Ukip spokeswoman in light of the "divisive" comments, but Ukip later said the email had been issued "without proper authority" and Evans remained a spokeswoman.
Last month, however, Farage said Evans had been stripped of her titles as party leader and welfare spokesman.
Evans asked at the time if she was the "most purged woman in British politics".
Yes, it is true. Sacked again! Am I the most purged woman in British politics?! https://t.co/bcpMXBCo7Z
— Suzanne Evans (@SuzanneEvans1) March 4, 2016
The latest disagreement, however, appears to stem from disagreements over which eurosceptic group will get the official "leave" campaign status in the run-up to the EU referendum on 23 June.
Farage backs the Grassroots Out campaign, while Evans is a member of the board of Vote Leave.