Ukip’s Suzanne Evans has said she would like to stand for the party’s leadership but faces being ruled out because of her suspension.
The former Ukip deputy chairman said today it is “nigh-on impossible” for her to run to replace Nigel Farage following his resignation earlier today.
In March, Ms Evans was suspended for six months when she was accused of disloyalty.
She said she received the punishment when she called on Ukip to deselect London candidate Alan Craig over language he allegedly used to describe gay people.
In a series of interviews today, Ms Evans said the timetable of the likely leadership contest meant she would be unable to put herself forward as a candidate.
She told Sky News: “I find myself in this quite surreal situation really.
“I'm currently suspended from Ukip because I stood up against homophobia I saw within the party and for some reason our National Executive Committee saw that a reason to suspend me and to put me out into the cold for six months.
“So although my inbox and social media feed has been filling up with lots of calls for me to actually stand for the leadership of Ukip I simply can't at the moment, I'm not in a position to be able to do so.”
”I would very much like to stand.
“I've never made any secret of the fact that if Nigel Farage did step aside for any reason I would like to put myself forward. I'd like to have that opportunity to do so.”
Ms Evans also defended the actions of Douglas Carswell who tweeted a smiley face emoji just moments after Mr Farage announced his resignation.
She told LBC it was clear Mr Farage had shown a lot of “animosity” towards the party’s sole MP.
