Two senior members of UKIP have resigned this morning in protest over UKIP leader Paul Nuttall’s claims about Hillsborough, and more are expected to go.



The UKIP chairmen have gone just days before the by-election in Stoke where Nuttall is running to be its MP.

The chair of UKIP’s Liverpool branch and the chair of the Merseyside branch both resigned, calling his comments “upsetting” and citing his “unprofessional approach and crass insensitivity”.

They also questioned whether he is “fit to lead” the party, reports the BBC.

The controversy erupted last week after it emerged that Nuttall had falsely claimed on his website he had lost “close friends” at the Hillsborough disaster.

Nuttall blamed a press officer for the mistake, even though a press statement had been sent out in his name five years ago.

Radio 4’s Today programme reported that more resignations from UKIP were expected as the controversy rumbled on.

At the UKIP Spring conference over the weekend, Nuttall chose to blame the media instead, calling it a “cruel smear campaign”.

The party and its leader haven’t responded to the resignations yet.

Looks like UKIP are about to have another leadership contest