TWO senior Ukip officials quit the party today due to "crass insensitivity" over the Hillsborough tragedy.
Leader Paul Nuttall apologised last week over false claims that close friends had died in the 1989 stadium disaster.
Donor Arron Banks later tweeted that he was "sick to death" of hearing about the incident and accused Nuttall's critics of "milking" it to make political points.
Now Stuart Monkcom, who chaired leader Paul Nuttall's branch in Liverpool, and Adam Heatherington, chair of the Merseyside regional branch, have resigned, calling the "upsetting and intolerable" for the families of victims.
The announcement comes just days before the Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election, where Nuttall hopes to oust Labour.
Monkcom said: "Although the timing of our resignations is unfortunate in light of upcoming elections both Adam and I wish to make it clear where the painful subject of Hillsborough is concerned, with closure not yet in sight, this unprofessional approach and crass insensitivity from high-profile people closely within and without Ukip is upsetting and intolerable.
"We identify most strongly with all the good people of Liverpool and most importantly the families of the Hillsborough victims, who have fought so long and hard for justice in their condemnation of the way Ukip has handled these issues and have resigned our positions and membership of Ukip forthwith."
In an address to Ukip's spring conference on Friday, Nuttall claimed he had been the victim of a "co-ordinated, cruel and almost evil smear campaign" over Hillsborough and said a press officer was responsible for the inaccurate claim.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Tristram Hunt.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here