If you can tear yourself away from the government’s Brexit meltdown then we have some other news for you — Nigel Farage has quit the UK Independence Party.
The three-time leader of Ukip announced his decision on Tuesday evening, explaining that he is uncomfortable with how “the party’s direction has changed fundamentally” under its current leader Gerard Batten.
Specifically, he’s unhappy with the fact that Batten has appointed former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson as a Ukip adviser.
“I believe he [Robinson] is entirely unsuitable to be involved in any political party,” Farage writes in an article published by the Telegraph. “The very idea of Tommy Robinson being at the centre of the Brexit debate is too awful to contemplate.”
On any other evening, this could be a biggest news story. But today? As the government is reeling from two historic defeats in the House of Commons? No such luck.
Still, people have spotted Farage’s update at least (thanks, Twitter), though some claimed not to care:
Others hit their gif libraries, busted out their best jokes and were soon raking in the likes:
Farage’s reason for leaving - which fundamentally seems to be that Ukip is leaning too far to the right - has attracted a lot of the attention:
Indeed, one of the only accounts to tweet seriously on the matter - aside from those belonging to news organisations and reporters - is Ukip’s:
Farage isn’t the only senior member to quit the party citing Robinson’s recent involvement, as three of its Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have also left in recent weeks.
Batten appointed Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, as a Ukip adviser on grooming gangs and prisons in mid-November claiming he has “great knowledge” on both topics.
On account of previously being part of the EDL, Robinson is currently barred from being a Ukip member but this has not prevented Batten from giving him the advisory role.