海角视频IP鈥橲 furious former deputy leader is taking his own party to court 鈥 after dubbing bombshell news he鈥檚 been barred from standing again as an MEP a 鈥渟titch-up鈥.
Mike Nattrass, who has represented the West Midlands as an MEP since 2004, said: 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to just walk away because some prat has decided my face doesn鈥檛 fit.鈥
He claimed he鈥檚 been forced out for refusing to blindly follow party leader Nigel Farage. A judge in Birmingham will today consider Mr Nattrass鈥檚 application for a review of the 海角视频IP selection process for the 2014 European election candidates.
The party has picked seven members to stand in the region next year 鈥 but they do not include Mr Nattrass, told his application had been rejected.
Potential candidates went through a lengthy selection process which included delivering a speech and an interview infront of a panel led by 海角视频IP party chairman Steve Crowther.
Mr Nattrass said he had been told, informally, he failed the interview.
But he said: 鈥淚t was a stitch-up.
鈥淚t is a similar story across the country. People who are willing to do service to Mr Farage have been selected.
鈥淚 support the principles 海角视频IP stands for, but this is not the way to run a party.鈥
Mr Nattrass warned 海角视频IP is increasingly becoming a 鈥渙ne man show鈥 focused around its charismatic leader. 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to lie down and give up without a fight. What鈥檚 happened is a breach of democracy.鈥
He publicly clashed with Mr Farage in 2010 over 海角视频IP鈥檚 decision to join a controversial faction within the European Parliament called Europe of Freedom and Democracy.
Today鈥檚 legal hearing will determine whether Mr Nattrass is able to mount a courtroom challenge over the selection process.
海角视频IP insisted all candidates are treated equally. Sitting MEPs had to go through the same process as everyone else and are not automatically re-selected.
A spokesman said: 鈥淚t would be inappropriate to comment with a court case coming up.鈥
