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TV pundit and ex-Communist Claire Fox heads list of Brexit Party EU elections candidates

3 min read

Television pundit and former Revolutionary Communist Party member Claire Fox has been named among the Brexit Party's candidates at next month’s EU elections.


The writer and broadcaster was revealed as one of five due to run for ex-Ukip chief Nigel Farage’s new outfit when Britain is sent to the polls on 23 May.

Ex-soldier James Glancy, charity CEO Matthew Patten, former nurse Christina Jordan and salmon exporter Lance Forman were also unveiled at the party’s press conference in London this morning.

Taking to the lectern after being announced by party chair Richard Tice, Ms Fox said she was joining the movement during a "watershed moment for democracy".

“I’ve spent my life fighting for left-wing causes, so I can tell you no one is more surprised than me to be standing as a candidate for Nigel Farage’s Brexit party,” she said.

“To be honest, Nigel and I are unlikely to agree on a range of issues… but on the key question of implementing Brexit, no ifs, no buts, on the crucial issue of honouring democracy, Nigel and I agree wholeheartedly."

The announcements follow the unveiling of Annunziata Rees-Mogg, the former Conservative candidate and sister of Tory arch-Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg, as a candidate at the party’s launch earlier this month.

Mr Farage meanwhile said this morning that the European elections marked “just the beginning” for the group, which he insisted had not formed “just to get a protest vote”.

“We have a two party system and those parties now serve nothing frankly but themselves," he said.

“The system isn’t working, Parliament doesn’t represent the view of this country and we are being ambitious, more ambitious than I’ve ever been in the past.

“I did say a few years ago that I would do my best to cause an earthquake in British politics and I think given the current aftershocks I had some success with that agenda.

"But this is far more upbeat, far more optimistic and far more ambitious. This is about changing politics for good, changing the shape of our political parties."

Elsewhere former Royal Marine Mr Glancy said Britain was facing a “crisis”, adding: “The politicians at Westminster, the members of parliament, the lords, right now, are undermining democracy and our leadership is humiliating the British public on the international stage.”

Mr Forman's London salmon smokehouse, H. Forman & Son, was once praised by Michael Gove as "the Mount Everest of the fish business".

Following a visit to the factory in 2017, the Environment Secretary, said: "This smoked salmon is delicious and unique. It's an inspiration to the rest of the world. Eating is believing."

One poll published last week put the new Brexit Party on course to top the European elections, which will take place if Theresa May cannot get an EU agreement through Parliament by 22 May.

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