Ukip Suspend PPC Stephen Howd Over Alleged 'Workplace Incident'

Farage's Very Bad Day Just Got A Whole Lot Worse, Thanks To This Guy...
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Britain's UKIP party leader Nigel Farage answers questions from the media at the Movie Starr Cinema in Canvey Island, east of London, on February 12, 2015, as he makes his first major speech of the 2015 General Election. AFP PHOTO/JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images

Ukip has suspended Stephen Howd, its parliamentary candidate in Scunthorpe, following "allegations of an incident at his workplace", the party confirmed on Friday afternoon.

It is the second Ukip suspension in under 24 hours. The suspension of Howd comes as Nigel Farage is grappling with a police probe into allegations that high profile Ukip MEP Janice Atkinson attempted to overcharge EU expenses.

On Friday afternoon, Kent Police said the Kent and Essex serious crime directorate was reviewing the allegation linked to MEP and parliamentary hopeful Atkinson. Officers acted after the Sun newspaper reported that a staff member obtained an invoice for a sum more than three times the actual cost of an event, apparently with the intention of claiming it back from Brussels funds.

A Ukip disciplinary panel will determine on Monday whether Atkinson should face action over the allegations, the party's leader Farage said. The Ukip leader said it appeared to be "one of the most incredibly stupid and dishonest things I've ever seen in my life".

According to the 'HowManyUkipSuspensions' Tumblr, the party has suspended 39 members since May 2010. Including 14 candidates. The Spectator, describing Ukip as "in crisis" today, also lists some of the more high profile suspensions over the last two years.

10 photos showing how 'little fun' Nigel Farage has as Ukip leader
Farage finds Private Eye extremely unfunny(01 of10)
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Private Eye's cover mocking up Ukip as clowns actually quite upset the party leader.
Nigel barely cheers up in a pub (02 of10)
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Even if it was after some good local elections last May.
Not even a pint can perk him up (03 of10)
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Farage didn't enjoy the 2013 Ukip spring conference. (04 of10)
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Farage manages a rare laugh at a press conference.
He didn't like the 2014 Ukip conference either (05 of10)
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Farage really doesn't want to be here(06 of10)
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Farage couldn't hold back during a press conference in Eastleigh to support then by-election candidate Diane James.
Farage can't stand this speech really (07 of10)
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Farage put on a brave face as he listened to newly-elected European Parliament president Martin Schulz in 2012.
Nigel never liked campaigning (08 of10)
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Farage finds this lady utterly tiresome(09 of10)
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The Ukip leader managed to be an utter professional when out campaigning in Eastleigh.
Nigel is having so little fun. Really. (10 of10)
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