Former MEP Nikki Sinclaire fraud trial starts

Former We Demand a Referendum Now Party MEP, Nikki Sinclaire, went on trial today to answer 10 charges of fraud and misconduct brought on behalf of the EU's fraud investigation department, OLAF.

Sinclaire has been charged with misconduct in public office and transferring or converting criminal property (also known as money laundering).

Sinclaire was first elected to the EU Parliament as a UKIP MEP but was booted out of the party when she waged a divisive and destructive civil war after losing to Nigel Farage in a leadership election. She launched a sex discrimination case against the party and was awarded a default judgement after the party's lawyers missed the deadline to file their defence. UKIP was the first (and still only) party to have a transgender MEP.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.

Nikki Sinclaire denies charges of fraud and misconduct

Former We Demand a Referendum Party MEP, Nikki Sinclaire, has denied charges of money laundering, fraud and misconduct in a public office charges.

Sinclaire was formerly a UKIP MEP and prior to that a Conservative Party activist. She left UKIP under a cloud after losing a leadership battle against Nigel Farage and throwing her teddies out of her pram.

She was charged at Birmingham Crown Court with misconduct in a public office by making, or causing to be made, false or dishonest claims for travel expenses. She was also charged with fraudulently transferring criminal property into her bank account.

A trial date has been set for October 19th with a pre-trial review on October 2nd.

Nikki Sinclaire charged with money laundering and misconduct in public office

Former MEP, Nikki Sinclaire, was bailed to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on 7th January where she will face charges of money laundering and misconduct in public office.

Sinclaire is a former Conservative who joined UKIP, got elected as an MEP, lost a challenge against Nigel Farge's leadership, went into open revolt against the party, got booted out, formed the We Demand a Referendum Now Party and lost her seat. She has been under investigation by the EU's anti-fraud organisation, OLAF and West Midlands Police for some time.

There is little point in employing as a press officer a person who could have an argument in an empty house

Former Director of Communications for UKIP, Mark Croucher, has contributed a few extra facts to the discussions around Saint Nikki of Meriden and her cowardly attack on Nigel Farage and Annabelle Fuller in the EU Parliament.

It turns out that Nikki Sinclaire applied for a number of paid jobs in the party, including Director and Deputy Director of Communications and was turned down for all of them. One of the jobs she applied for was given to Annabelle Fuller instead and this is believed to be the source of her dislike for Fuller.

Croucher explains why Nikki Sinclaire wasn't given a job in the party:

Regarding Ms Sinclaire, she was an unsuccessful applicant for the position at the time, just as she was an unsuccessful applicant for my then position, for Clive Page's position, and for a number of other paid roles within UKIP. Her subsequent actions, her on-going bitterness and abrasive personality, her arrest for expenses fraud and her association with members of the far-right including those on paid positions on her current staff have proved that our decision with regards to Ms Sinclaire were correct.

Sinclaire was not interviewed for the position as we only bothered to interview candidates with some ability. There is little point in employing as a press officer a person who could have an argument in an empty house.

Smeargate steps up a gear

The anti-UKIP smear campaign being run by the press shows no sign of letting up with both Nikki Sinclaire and Mike Nattrass being drafted in to help with the personal attacks on Nigel Farage.

Yesterday's Mirror quotes Nattrass - who left the party after failing to be reselected for the EU elections and losing a legal challenge to the decision - claiming that Nigel Farage was given a bottle of 7-Up as a prize for having sex with a 25 year old Latvian woman 7 times in one night. That would be a pretty impressive achievement for anyone, let alone a middle-aged chain smoking heavy drinker. It's a ridiculous story and a decent journalist would have seen it as such straight away.

They also repeat the claim by Nikki Sinclaire - another former UKIP MEP with a grudge - that Farage has been sleeping with Annabelle Fuller, his former assistant. This story has been put about for years and repeatedly denied but Sinclaire brought it up again publicly in the EU parliament where she can claim parliamentary privilege from the safety of the belly of the beast.

What Sinclaire, Nattrass and the journalists writing this crap are all forgetting is that whilst it might benefit their careers to sling mud at Farage, he has a wife and children. Their politically motivated smears aren't just attacking him, they're causing distress to him and his children as well and of course poor Anabelle is being hounded by the press yet again asking the same questions she's been getting for the best part of a decade.

Nikki Sinclaire and Mike Nattrass are only interested in trying to keep their seats in the EU parliament and don't care who they hurt in the process but the papers have already been rapped on the knuckles over this sort of thing by the Leveson Inquiry and should know better. Politically motivated attacks are to be expected but when innocent partners and children are brought into it, that's a step too far.

Nikki Sinclaire's political partner shows herself to be an insufferable snob

The insufferably irritating Apprentice reject, Katie Hopkins, has shown herself to also be insufferably snobbish and judgemental.

Hopkins, who set up the We Want a Referendum vote-splitting vanity project with ex-UKIP MEP Nikki Sinclaire, went on ITV's This Morning show to explain how she judges children by the names their parents have given them and refuses to allow her own children (who have names that she judges in other children to be a sign of their unsuitability) to associate with children who have certain "working class" names.

What a truly awful person Hopkins is, no wonder she gravitated to Nikki Sinclaire!

Why Things Never Looked Better for UKIP

Lord Stevens couldn’t have timed his defection to UKIP better as a number of events are simultaneously occurring which should bring the Party even closer than it already is to unprecedented political success.  

First, consider the creation by Nikki Sinclaire of a new eurosceptic party. At first glance this might seem like a negative development as it may split the Eurosceptic vote. However, the birth of the We Demand a Referendum Party is undoubtedly a blessing in disguise.

Think of all the UKIP members who do more harm than good to the Party. Those who’ve caused the party to rack up huge legal fees, waged unnecessary wars on the leadership and those who go out of their way to ensure the party gets bad publicity. Who would be in that list? Surely it’s people like Nikki Sinclaire, the writers of Junius, Greg L-Watkins etc. These are exactly the kind of people who will be vacating UKIP and busying themselves with this doomed political venture.

And, while the prospect of the eurosceptic vote being split may seem scary, it is in fact a very small one. Once the tiny initial fanfare in the media the new party has generated fizzles away, it will be unlikely to gain much press coverage at all.

Consider this too: at the last European Elections there were numerous Eurosceptic parties on the ballot papers including No2EU, Libertas and the BNP. They all did pants compared to UKIP which famously beat the governing Labour Party to second place.

Second, UKIP is riding success in the polls in the build-up to elections where UKIP has the chance to reap real rewards.  The general picture is that UKIP continues to hover around the ankles of the Libdems and there is growing disillusionment among the public with the two main parties.

Third, and finally, UKIP members should embrace the much needed revamping of UKIP’s image. There is simply no question that at least some rebranding is a necessary part of winning an election. UKIP’s pound logo is tired and old now. In the 21^st Century political parties, and notably successful ones, constantly rebrand themselves, and this is not necessarily a bad thing so long as it does not lead to party policy being diluted.

In summary, UKIP is in a stronger position than ever before. And, after all, this is a political party that has gone from 4,383 votes in its first contested General Election to well over 920,000 in its last. With the real fruitcakes and gadflies of British euroscepticism leaving to form their own party, things have never looked better.

Julien Conway tweets at @julienconway

Former UKIP MEP launches vote-splitter party

Former UKIP MEP, Nikki Sinclaire, has announced her intention to form a new political party to contest EU elections.

Saint Nikki of Meriden, as she is also known, caused mayhem in UKIP when she declared war on Nigel Farage using members as cannon fodder and allegedly encouraging a young member of staff to misuse UKIP membership lists to create fictitious accounts on the members' forum to post pro-Nikki and anti-Farage comments.  In the end, she had the whip removed and was banned from using the UKIP name.  She was expelled from the party but sued to have the expulsion overturned and due to a clerical error, UKIP's defence wasn't submitted in time and she was awarded a default judgement and allowed to rejoin.

Sinclaire of course has no hope of being elected as an independent MEP, hence forming her own political party.  She still has very little chance of being elected but may dilute the eurosceptic vote enough as the fake eurosceptics in Libertas and No2EU did in the last EU election to allow the vote-splitting Tories to scrape by ahead of UKIP, setting back the eurosceptic cause.

There is no denying that Nikki has done some fantastic campaigning against the EU and she did some great things in UKIP but there is no cause more important to Nikki Sinclaire as Nikki Sinclaire.  It's understandable that she would want to protect her political and financial future but for someone who pontificated on putting the cause before your own interests when she was still a UKIP MEP, it's pretty hypocritical to launch a rival political party that can only damage the eurosceptic cause.  On the plus side, it's grounds for kicking her out of the party that not even an experienced litigator such as Saint Nikki can sue their way out of.

UKIP candidate standing against Nikki Sinclaire

The Birmingham Post is reporting on the fact that UKIP is standing a candidate in the general election against their "own MEP", Nikki Sinclaire.

It's a bit of an unusual situation this, not something that happens very often for any party.  Nikki Sinclaire is, as far as I'm aware, still a member of UKIP but she's no longer a UKIP MEP.  She isn't allowed to stand as a UKIP candidate or use the UKIP name or logo and is standing for election in Meriden for the Solihull and Meriden Residents Association.

While it's true that Nikki is a committed eurosceptic, it would be inconsistent to stand aside for her as the party has for a handful of others, such as Bob Spink and Stuart Wheeler.  There are BNP and English Democrat candidates in most of the seats UKIP is contesting and both parties are eurosceptic but there is no suggestion of standing aside for their candidates.

Nikki's not a UKIP MEP, she's not a UKIP PPC and she's no more likely to win an election than the BNP or English Democrats so is there a reason why UKIP shouldn't field a candidate against her?  It will no doubt cause ripples in her local UKIP branch and put a few noses out of joint amongst her dwindling band of supporters but is that a good enough reason not to stand a candidate against her?

My initial thoughts were "what the hell are we doing?".  Now I'm thinking "why not?".

Incidentally, the Libertarian Party (former UKIPper, Chris Mounsey, is their leader) is endorsing Nikki.  I wonder whose idea that was and at what price.

Exclusive: Nikki Sinclaire quits EFD group in EU Parliament

We have just had it confirmed that Nikki Sinclaire MEP has resigned from the Europe of Freedom & Democracy (EFD) group in the EU Parliament.

Nikki was uncomfortable with the EFD group from day one for understandable reasons. Some of the members of the EFD group are, if not homophobic, not exactly complimentary of homosexuality.

There are 27 countries in the European Empire and what may be considered unacceptable to most people in one country isn't necessarily considered unacceptable to most people in another country and in the case of some of UKIP's Eastern European partners in the EFD group, their views on homosexuality are a case in point.

I can fully understand Nikki's feelings on the group although it's a shame no compromise could be found that would have enabled her to stay in the EFD grouping with her fellow UKIP MEPs. I am sure she will continue to work for UKIP, for the country and most importantly, for the people in the West Midlands that voted for her to represent them in the EU Parliament.

Edit: Apologies for the post disappearing overnight, I assume it was deleted in error.

Nikki Sinclaire to stand as UKIP leader

UKIP West Midlands MEP, Nikki Sinclaire, has announced her intention to stand for election as leader of the party following Nigel Farage's decision to stand down.

Nikki would be an excellent candidate - she calls a spade a spade, she's not afraid of confrontation and she knows more about politics than most of the traitors in Brussels will ever know. The only downside is that she's an MEP and the party leader job is a demanding one.

I might need to revise my shortlist.

EU Parliament researching new anti-UKIP smear?

Interesting. Why would the EU Imperial Parliament be searching for "UKIP far right" in Google and then again for "Nikki Sinclaire"? Expect a smear any day now ...

You're nothing better than fascists and dictators

Nikki Sinclair, UKIP's number 2 MEP in the West Midlands, was booed and jeered by LibLabCon supporters during her victory speech.

During her speech she criticised "the LibLabCon" for not allowing us a vote on the EU and told them there were "nothing better than fascists and dictators".

She is one scary woman!

UKIP Double seats in West Midlands !

Mike Nattrass and Nikki Sinclaire are set to go to Brussels !

Conservative 396,847 28.1 (+0.7) 2 0

UK Independence Party 300,471 21.3 (+3.8) 2 +1

Labour 240,201 17. (-6.4) 1 -1

Liberal Democrats 170,246 12. (-1.7) 1

Sutton Coldfield Action Day Reports Great Success

Yesterday saw another successful UKIP campaign day this time in Sutton Coldfield. 24 activists including Mike Nattrass MEP , Number 2 candidate Nikki Sinclaire and NEC member Jill Seymour blitzed the area with information packs. These days are proving more and more successful and the requests for information and membership are increasing. No doubt due to the publics growing realisation about the corrupt and doomed EU.

Over 10,000 packs were distributed during the day and our volunteers were received well by the general public. Many of whom took time to ask questions and offer their support, many offering to display billboards during the election. After a morning of leafleting and sigining new members up on the spot the teams split into two groups. The one toured the town on the regions new UKIP bus fitted with a high quality speaker system on its first public outing while the others continued leafleting. The day was a great success and the team have vowed to return to the town before the election.

All in all a good day , the sun was shining and our leaflets flew out. Labour are in a state of meltdown, the Liberal Democrats have vanished altogether and the Tories don't want to talk about anything - especially our enslavement to the EU in case it costs them votes. No problems like that in UKIP, our campaign is well and truly underway.

Watch out for the bus if your in the West Midlands !

Rustie Lee To Stand As MEP

UKIP in the West Midlands launched its European election campaign on Monday 20th April, 2009. With the withdrawel of a candidate back in January from the West Midlands list, Rustie asked if she could step in. She said on the eve of her acceptance:

I am proud of the country in which I was born and I am proud to be British. There is no substitute for freedom and independence but neither can apply under the political domination of the EU or any other foreign Empire.

Friends tell me I am a happy person, but the EU causes me concern and sadness because I believe the British people were tricked into losing their country. We must all stand together to say YES to friendship and trade with Europe but loudly to say NO to political union. There is a whole world out there with people who want to trade with us without the unnecessary constraints of EU red tape. Together we can cook up independence; it’s a piece of cake.

Good luck to her .The full list of UKIP European election candidates in the West Midlands are: Mike Nattrass MEP, Nikki Sinclaire, Jill Seymour, Rustie Lee, Malcolm Hurst and Jonathan Oakton - make sure you vote UKIP on June 4th if you want your country back and want to 'Say No' to EU rule.

Two New UKIP Blogs - Enjoy

Nikki Sinclaire, UKIP Blog - UKIP's Number 2 candidate on the West Mids list for June's EU Elections , Political Assistant/Advisor and Regional Committee chairman

Desire 4 Freedom - Blog of Jason Smith UK Independence Party Bradford & District Chairman and the Bradford Coordinator of No2ID.

Two New UKIP Blogs - Enjoy

Nikki Sinclaire, UKIP Blog - UKIP's Number 2 candidate on the West Mids list for June's EU Elections , Political Assistant/Advisor and Regional Committee chairman

Desire 4 Freedom - Blog of Jason Smith UK Independence Party Bradford & District Chairman and the Bradford Coordinator of No2ID.

Telford & Wrekin Branch AGM

The AGM of the Telford & Wrekin Branch last night was an interesting one.

As well as members of Telford & Wrekin branch, Mike Nattrass MEP, Nikki Sinclaire (prospective MEP), Malcolm Hurst (PPC), Derek Bennett (West Midlands Regional Organiser) and Roy Wood (Stafford Branch Chairman) came along to lend their support and welcome our newest member, Councillor Denis Allen.

Denis (who was, until recently, Chairman of Wrekin Conservative Association) addressed the branch on why he had decided to leave the Tories and join UKIP instead, on the duplicity of the Tories and the big con on their supposedly eurosceptic credentials. In the time-honoured tradition of our branch, Denis was thrown in at the deep end and elected as Chairman!

One ever-generous member volunteered to pay for twelve (expensive) billboards for the election campaign in the West Midlands which Mike Nattrass said he will match fund out of his own pocket. The branch also agreed to fund one out of branch funds which Mike Nattrass will also match, which means Telford & Wrekin branch has secured 26 billboards for the election campaign. The bar has been set for other branches now, Mike will match-fund whatever is pledged for billboards - drop him a line for more details.

UK Independence - Midlands Counties

Nikki Sinclair, chairman of UKIP West Midlands regional committee, has just finished the first ever edition of the new "UK Independence" magazine for the Midlands counties.

The magazine has just been sent to the printers and will be posted out shortly but Bloggers4UKIP has been sent a PDF version of the magazine so you can get a sneak preview. Just click on the icon below to get your copy of UK Independence.

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