Only UKIP lawmaker in British Parliament quits anti-EU party
LONDON — The UK Independence Party is losing its only member of the British Parliament in a blow to the upstart anti-Europe party, which has seen bitter feuding between its top figures.
Douglas Carswell said Saturday that he’s leaving UKIP and will serve in Parliament as an independent. He said his departure won’t trigger a new election because he isn’t joining another party.
Carswell has been in direct conflict with former party leader Nigel Farage, who played a key role in the successful Brexit campaign, and Arron Banks, the party’s most generous donor.
Carswell downplayed these differences. He said the party’s main goal of winning Britain’s exit from the European Union had been achieved now that Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May is set to trigger Article 50 on Wednesday to begin the EU divorce negotiations.