Today, UKIP allegedly made the decision to remove Olly Neville, Chair of Young Independence, from his position due to his vocal support in favour of equal marriage.
I can confirm I have been removed as Chairman of Young Independence on policy issues the Chairman discussed with me http://t.co/nACTBac0—
Olly Neville (@OllyNeville) January 08, 2013
NEC have decided to remove @OllyNeville as YI chair. I have also resigned the position as elections officer as protest.—
Gareth Shanks (@Garethshanks) January 08, 2013
.@YIofficial chairman @OllyNeville sacked for "misrepresenting party policy". MF shortly.—
Gaz Corfield (@GazTheJourno) January 08, 2013
Commenting, Liberal Youth acting Chair Harry Matthews said:
I commend Olly for his outspoken support for equal marriage, a policy which Liberal Youth is fully behind. One of the many functions of the youth wing of a political party is to hold their superiors to account, as well as bridging the vast generational gap between the new breed ofpolitical activists and MPs.
YI have made clear they are unhappy with their party’s stance on equal marriage yet, instead of engaging with their concerns, the party saw fit to remove their Chair in the hope this problem would go away.
To see any party – but especially one which prides itself on its Libertarian nature – treat its own members like this is nothing short of appalling, and the vocal outrage from within YI is understandable, and I hope youth wings from all parties will join us in condemning
this cowardly act.Liberal Democrats have always been sceptical of large & powerful institutions, such as the European Union, so would welcome anyone who considers themselves a Eurosceptic.
If any Young Independence members want to join a party with truly liberal values, our door is always open.
