Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Nigel Farage deserves to be made a duke, says Neil Hamilton

Douglas Carswell allegedly tries to stop former leader getting peerage

Harriet Agerholm
Thursday 02 March 2017 19:19 GMT
Comments
Neil Hamilton says Nigel Farage deserves a dukedom

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Nigel Farage deserves to be made a duke, according to Ukip's leader in Wales, Neil Hamilton.

Mr Hamilton told the BBC's Daily Politics: "I would say Nigel deserves a peerage. I'd say he deserves a dukedom for the role that he's played in getting us out of the EU."

Mr Hamilton had been asked about reports that the party's sole MP, Douglas Carswell, had tried to block the former Ukip leader's efforts to gain a peerage.

Relations between Mr Farage and Mr Carswell have been strained in recent days, with the former Ukip leader calling the MP a "Tory party posh boy" who was afraid of talking about immigration.

Tensions in the wider party have also been raised by leader Paul Nuttall's loss in a Stoke-on-Trent by-election, which has revived speculation that the party is in a downward spiral.

But Mr Hamilton told the programme: "This is a wholly confected crisis, if it is one.

"Well have you seen much of that, have we [sic] Douglas Carswell has been working against Ukip since the general election is preposterous.

"This is a grudge match which Nigel's had against Douglas for a very long time.

"Douglas is an independently minded chap and grown-up political parties should be able to copy with personal differences."

Mr Farage on Wednesday insisted he had no desire to sit in the House of Lords in the future.

“I would not want a peerage," he said, adding: "If something else came along, I might accept it but I would not want a peerage.

“I’m still leading a group in the European Parliament and once Article 50 gets declared [at the] end of next week possibly, there’s going to be a big job to do.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in