THE future of the UK Independence Party in Scotland has been thrown into turmoil with a civil war looming and a coup planned against its leader north of the Border.
Just months after claiming it was mobilising in Scotland with new branches being set up across the country and ahead of May's European elections, the party has split into factions with an extraordinary general meeting called where three key office bearers face being ousted.
Several key members have submitted motions of no confidence against Otto Inglis, secretary of Ukip Scotland, and party treasurer Dr Jonathan Stanley.
They in turn have moved against the Eurosceptic party's Scottish chairman Mike Scott-Hayward, amid claims internal structures are in disarray.
Ukip sources have accused Dr Stanley, 31, a part-time locum at English hospitals who came sixth in a recent Edinburgh Council by-election with 235 votes, and Mr Inglis, a qualified barrister, as being the prime movers in Ukip Scotland's internal discord.
Mr Inglis was fifth in the recent Aberdeen Donside by-election, with 1128 votes, 4.83% of the poll.
One senior source said: "It's an utter shambles. We've no organisation, Mike Scott-Hayward is nowhere to be seen, no-one's heard from Christopher (Lord) Monckton (Ukip Scottish president) and it's really not like any political party I've ever heard of.
"Communications disappear into a black hole, there's brewing friction and internal politics has taken over. Every party has divisions but there's no structures here to deal with it. It's all very demoralising."
The extraordinary meeting, planned for Stirling this month, will see candidates and leading members present views on the future of Ukip in Scotland.
In May, Mr Scott-Hayward, a former Tory councillor, said the party was experiencing a significant growth in membership in Scotland, leading to it reorganising and setting up new branches in Orkney, Moray, Lanarkshire, the Black Isle and the Borders.
Mr Scott-Hayward, an ex-army major and coastguard officer, said members of various other parties had joined Ukip. Some polls claimed their pre-summer support was as high as 9%.
Steve McKeane, a recent Ukip Parliamentary candidate is one of those behind the motions to oust Dr Stanley and Mr Inglis. He said: "These are internal party matters and will be discussed internally and those within the party will be made aware of results of those discussions in due course. I don't see why people are trying to second guess what will happen."
Another party source said: "There are a couple of people within the organisation who don't like the way the system is run and organised. They've tried to move against the leadership earlier this year and failed."
A Ukip Scotland spokesman said: "There's an internal dispute and this is the opportunity to sort that so we can go forward as a united body going forward towards the European elections."
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