Leadership plan to ditch Kilroy.

Things are turning nastier in the leadership battle. Not content with spreading inaccurate and suspect survey results through the official web-site (see our post below) it now appears that a scheme is being laid to dump UKIP's highest-profile MEP and greatest electoral asset.

Over the next week or two, I hear that there will be a concerted effort by the UKIP hierarchy to provoke Kilroy into leaving the party. Amongst the ploys being suggested is a move to refuse him accreditation to stand as a candidate in the general election, along with a more general plan to "isolate" him from any party activities.

The leadership, infuriated by Kilroys recent media statements, feel sufficiently confident to make their move after having conducted a straw poll amongst party branch chairmen, and have guaged that Kilroy does not have enough support on the ground to force a leadership election - which could only be done by calling an EGM.

Of course, the hope is that Kilroy will leave of his own accord, leaving the leadership to utter their profound regrets, while absolving themselves of any responsibility for the move. The big question is whether Kilroy will put up a fight, or turn and run.