NIGEL Farage has faced a barrage of criticism from dropped Brexit Party candidates after he agreed not to contest Tory-held seats.
One former party candidate branded Farage a “disgrace to politics”, while another has vowed to stand as an independent Brexit-supporting candidates.
Amid the furore, the party cancelled a planned Westminster rally this morning – despite having promoted it as recently as Saturday.
Robert Wheal, who was due to fight in the Arundel and South Downs constituency for the Brexit Party, was stood down as the seat is currently held by the Conservatives.
In a series of angry tweets in the wake of Farage's announcement on Monday, Wheal insisted the Brexit Party leader is “finished” and described him as a “disgrace to politics”.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland’s future at risk of being decided by Nigel Farage
He tweeted: "It's putting Nigel before the country. He will go down in infamy, letting down so many good people with whom he sought their trust. He is finished as a politician.
"All that Farage has exposed is his duplicity to so many supporters who had put their faith in him."
It's putting Nigel before country. He will go down in infamy letting down so many good people with whom he sought their trust. He is finished as a ploitician@ https://t.co/zFiGhmUh8a
— Robert Wheal Brexit Party PPC (@RobertWheal) November 11, 2019
Wheal said Leave supporters could "kiss goodbye" to Brexit following the decision and vowed to spoil his ballot paper.
Speaking to LBC radio this morning, he said: "It was made very clear to us all at the first Brexit Party rally that we will put country before party and that, if Farage managed to arrange a deal with Boris Johnson that he would agree to drop his rotten Withdrawal Agreement and take on a no-deal, we would all stand down and support him.
"But what we have here is absolute codswallop."
Wheal continued: "Farage hasn't even got a deal. This was a golden opportunity to get Brexit. The Tories aren't offering Brexit. They're offering 'Brino' – Brexit in name only."
He denied that splitting the Leave vote risked a second referendum, describing it as "just more Remainer Project Fear".
"Half the Brexit Party supporters have worked their socks off for that party and he's dropped them like a stone at 12 o'clock yesterday," he said.
READ MORE: What does Nigel Farage's Tory pact U-turn mean for Scotland?
Another former Brexit Party candidate has opted to stand as independent Brexiteer.
Neil Greaves said the Brexit Party leader had been "outmanoeuvred" and encouraged his fellow candidates to follow his example.
"Nigel has let Brexiteers down ... he should be standing up for the 17.4 million people who voted for Brexit,” he said.
"Farage has been totally outmanoeuvred and out-negotiated without Boris (Johnson) even having to say anything."
Meanwhile, Brexit Party MEP Alexandra Phillips, who was due to stand as a candidate in the Tory seat of Southampton Itchen before Farage's announcement, has declared she will "not vote at all" at the election.
"I have been disenfranchised by my own party," the South East MEP tweeted.
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 hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel