Ukip faced embarrassment yesterday when it emerged that a woman described in its European election manifesto as an ordinary “voter from Devon” was Nigel Farage’s personal assistant.
Lizzy Vaid appears in a full-page photograph saying why she supports Ukip. She is also to appear in a party political broadcast, and featured in an earlier leaflet aimed at voters in a by-election. However, the party did not reveal that rather than a grassroots supporter, she was actually a paid employee at its London headquarters.
In a television interview, Mr Farage, the Ukip leader, said: “The fact Lizzy Vaid is half-Indian and works for us is, as far as we are concerned, a non-issue.”
The disclosure came as Mr Farage said the British political system would experience