British Asian Ukip leader quits over 'racist populism'
Ukip 'rising star' says party is 'exploiting the stupidity of ignorant anti-immigrant voters'
A PROMINENT British Asian youth leader has announced that she is leaving Ukip because it has begun peddling a "form of racist populism".
Sanya-Jeet Thandi, who acted as chair of Ukip's London youth wing, says in an article in The Guardian that she is leaving the party due to the "terrifying" direction it has taken and she can no longer support it.
The departure of the 20-year-old is "awkward" for Nigel Farage, the Financial Times says, coming just a week after the party held a political rally featuring ethnic minority council candidates.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In the run up to the European elections Ukip has attempted to counter allegations that it is a racist political party.
But in her article, Thandi says that the party has become just that, and had veered away from the principles that first attracted her to it, which included lower taxes, a smaller state and "an immigration policy that offered fair and equal opportunities for everyone".
"The direction in which the party is going is terrifying," she claims. "Ukip has descended into a form of racist populism that I cannot bring myself to vote for. This week I decided to leave the party and I will abstain from voting in the upcoming European elections. I urge other Ukip supporters to do the same."
The former Ukip member says she has been particularly troubled by a Ukip election poster featuring an image of a finger pointing out at the viewer with the caption, "26m people in Europe are looking for work. And whose jobs are they after?"
Thandi says: "The... poster epitomises where the party is going wrong. This anti-immigrant campaign undermines Ukip's claim not to be a racist party. They are turning the election into a game of 'us' and 'them'. Well, I am with 'them'.
"Ukip is exploiting the stupidity of ignorant anti-immigrant voters for electoral gain. While the party deliberately attracts the racist vote, I refuse to be associated with them," Thandi writes.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Can Boris Johnson save Rishi Sunak?
Today's Big Question Former PM could 'make the difference' between losing the next election and annihilation
By The Week UK Published
-
Liz Truss and her bid to woo the American far-right
Why Everyone's Talking About Former PM pitching herself as 'bridge in transatlantic conservative movement'
By The Week UK Published
-
What would a second term for Ursula Von der Leyen mean for Europe?
Today's Big Question European Commission president faces far-right challenge to green agenda, Russian aggression and a faltering economy
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How Finland's tightening presidential race could affect future of Europe
Under the radar Country has key geostrategic position along Nato's longest border with an increasingly belligerent Russia
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published