The UK Independence Party has had all too many disasters for MEP Jonathan Arnott, who left UKIP last week over the 'nastiness' and shift in religious values.
Speaking to Premier on the latest chaos, the now independent, Arnott said it was far bigger than a leadership issue: "The problem cannot be fixed, irrespective of Henry Bolton's leadership.
"It is impossible for Henry Bolton to continue as leader and be an effective leader but also, the other side - those who are trying to drag him down - would be no better.
"The problem is the nastiness, the in-fighting, the back-stabbing, the constant leaking, the attempt to destroy opponents by trying to dig up dirt."
When asked if there is any hope for the party, Arnott said: "If I believed that there were any hope for UKIP to become that positive party again that stood up for people in this country, I'd be in it trying to change it into that.
"Can it survive? Yes I think it can. Can it survive in a form that I can be happy with or proud of even? No. I don't think it can."
He went on to say he could see it "ticking-on, getting one or two percent of the vote" but nothing more.
When asked if Henry Bolton will be the next to leave, Arnott said: "He finds himself in a very difficult position to be honest, I think he genuinely does believe that if he does resign the party can't survive the stresses and strains of another leadership election...but at the same time the national executive committee has just voted for a motion of no confidence in him so it's very difficult for him to continue under those circumstances."
Listen to the interview with MEP Jonathan Arnott with Premier's Cara Bentley here:
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