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UKIP exodus in Dudley continues as two more quit

The exodus from UKIP in Dudley has continued with two more resignations.

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Paul Brothwood has quit UKIP

Following West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge's decision to quit the party, former Wordsley councillor Paul Brothwood and borough chairman Martin Day have also stood down.

Both have cited the party's lurch towards the far right under current leader Gerard Batten as their reasons for leaving UKIP.

Mr Brothwood, who joined the party in 2012 and served on the authority from 2014 until losing his seat this year, said: "The current political message and constant hostility within UKIP is vile, and with so many longstanding, loyal members leaving it is beyond repair."

He has now joined the Libertarian Party.

Resigning his membership, Mr Day, said: "The UKIP leadership has chosen to fight another battle, namely opposing Islam. It is not a battle for which I enlisted. In that respect, I feel UKIP left me rather than vice versa."

Former Sedgley councillor Mr Etheridge quit earlier this week, saying that under Mr Batten's leadership UKIP no longer represented the views that he believes in.