Paul Nuttall

Paul Nuttall MEP
Nuttall on 5 April 2014
Leader of the UK Independence Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 November 2016
Deputy	Peter Whittle
Preceded by	Nigel Farage
Leader of the UK Independence Party in the European Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office November 2015
Preceded by	Roger Helmer
UKIP Spokesperson for Education, Life Skills and Training
In office 24 July 2014 – 17 September 2016
Leader	Nigel Farage
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	David Kurten
Deputy Leader of the UK Independence Party
In office 8 November 2010 – 16 September 2016
Leader	Nigel Farage
Preceded by	David Campbell Bannerman
Succeeded by	Peter Whittle
Chair of the UK Independence Party
In office 8 September 2008 – 8 November 2010
Leader	Nigel Farage The Lord Pearson of Rannoch Jeffrey Titford (Acting)
Preceded by	John Whittaker
Succeeded by	Steve Crowther
Member of the European Parliament for North West England
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 July 2009
Preceded by	John Whittaker
Personal details
Born	Paul Andrew Nuttall (1976-11-30) 30 November 1976 Bootle, Merseyside, England
Political party	UKIP (2004–present) Conservative (Before 2004)
Alma mater	North Lincolnshire College Edge Hill University Liverpool Hope University University of Central Lancashire
Website	Official website

Paul Andrew Nuttall (born 30 November 1976) is a British politician who has been the leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) since November 2016. He has served as an MEP for North West England since 2009.

Born in Bootle, Merseyside, Nuttall completed a HND in sports science at North Lincolnshire College before studying for a bachelor's degree in history at Edge Hill University. He then completed a master's degree at Liverpool Hope University. He received a Certificate in Education from the University of Central Lancashire and lectured at Liverpool Hope University. Initially a member of the Conservative Party, Nuttall stood as a candidate at local government level in Sefton. In 2004, he joined UKIP and contested the Bootle constituency for UKIP in the 2005 general election. From 2008 to 2009, he served as the founding secretary of Young Independence, and in September 2008 succeeded John Whittaker to the role of Chair of the UK Independence Party.

He was elected as an MEP for North West England in the 2009 European Parliament election, a position to which he was re-elected in the 2014 election. He contested the Bootle constituency again in the 2010 and 2015 general elections, as well as being UKIP's candidate in the 2011 Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election. Nuttall became Deputy Leader of UKIP in November 2010 and UKIP's Spokesperson for Education, Life Skills and Training in July 2014. He did not stand as a candidate in the September 2016 leadership election and renounced his position as Deputy Leader. However, he was a candidate in the November 2016 leadership election, at which he was elected.

A prominent Eurosceptic, Nuttall supports the observation of a British Independence Day. He favours a ban on wearing burqas in public places, has shown support for the reintroduction of capital punishment, and opposed Labour's 2015 plans to include LGBT-inclusive sex and relationship education in schools. He is an outspoken climate change denier and has during his political career both supported and opposed the privatisation of the National Health Service.

Early life

Born in Bootle in Merseyside, Nuttall was educated at Savio High School and completed his A-Levels at Hugh Baird College in Bootle. He completed a Higher National Diploma in Sports Science at North Lincolnshire College, before studying History at Edge Hill University, graduating with a BA, and at Liverpool Hope University where he specialised in Edwardian politics and graduated with an MA. He received a Certificate in Education from the University of Central Lancashire, and lectured at Liverpool Hope University between 2004 and 2006 after his graduation. In 2004, Nuttall started working towards a PhD into the 'History of Conservatism in Liverpool', but did not complete it. He was raised Catholic and is currently practising.

As a footballer, he was a member of Tranmere Rovers' youth squad in the early 1990s, although he has repudiated claims made in one of his own press releases that he had played professionally for the team.

Political career

Early political career, 2002–2009

Nuttall was initially a member of the Conservative Party. In 2002 local government elections, he stood as their candidate in Derby Ward on Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, where he came second winning 11.4% of the vote.

In 2004, he left the Conservatives and joined the UK Independence Party (UKIP). He founded its South Sefton branch in 2005 in order to contest elections in north Merseyside. He was UKIP's candidate for Bootle in the 2005 general election, where he won 4.1% of the vote. At the 2008 local elections, Nuttall again stood as a candidate for Derby Ward on Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, but this time as a UKIP candidate. He won 38% of the vote, behind the Labour Party candidate.

In 2008, Nuttall also became the founding secretary of Young Independence, the youth wing of UKIP for under 35-year-olds. He held this position until UKIP's spring conference in 2009 when Young Independence held their first internal elections. Nuttall was appointed as Chairman of UKIP in September 2008. At the time, he was also employed as a political advisor to the Independence/Democracy group in the European Parliament.

First term in the European Parliament, 2009–2014

In the 2009 European Parliament election, Nuttall was selected to head the UKIP list for the North West England constituency. Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, he said "The Euro-election next June will give people the chance to express their views about the European Union. It is really the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty that they have been denied. A vote for any other party is a vote for the EU. If people do not like having 80% of our legislation emanating from unelected bureaucrats in Brussels the only party to vote for is UKIP." He was subsequently elected.

Nuttall became a member of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) group in the European Parliament, as well as a member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and a substitute member of the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT). His first speech in plenary was on 7 October 2009, on the "underhand and undemocratic way in which the incandescent light bulb has been banned across the European Union."

Nuttall opened an office for his European Parliament work in Bootle in March 2010. Nuttall again contested Bootle at the 2010 general election, coming fourth with 6.1% of the vote. In July 2010, it was found that, on average, British MEPs had the worst European Parliament attendance records, and that Nuttall, alongside David Campbell Bannerman and Godfrey Bloom, had the worst attendance records of British MEPs, with an average of below 63%. On 8 November 2010, Nuttall was confirmed by UKIP's NEC as Nigel Farage's choice for Deputy Leader. At the same time, he stepped down as Chairman. He said, "This is a great honour which I was happy to accept, particularly at such a very exciting time for UKIP."

Following the general election, a High Court ruling found the result in Oldham East and Saddleworth null and void after Labour's Phil Woolas was found to have made false statements in campaign literature. Nuttall was selected as UKIP's candidate in the 2011 by-election held in the constituency to replace Woolas. Speaking to local media, he said that the by-election was "built on a pyramid of lies": "Whether it’s Labour lying on their own election literature which has caused this sorry scenario, or whether it’s the Liberal Democrats lying over tuition fees and reneging on their manifesto pledges, or whether it’s the Tories lying over our relationship with the EU, or immigration, or crime." Nuttall came fourth in the election, winning 5.8% of the vote.

During the debate over a possible electoral pact between the Conservatives and UKIP, in September 2012 Nuttall said "You never say never in politics" when asked about the possibility of them working together. However, in November 2012, Nuttall said there would be "no deals with the Tories while David Cameron is leader", blaming Cameron's previous claims about the party, including that it was one of "closet racists".

In February 2013, Nuttall visited Bulgaria at the invitation of independent MEP Slavcho Binev. He visited the largest Romani quarter of Sofia, Bulgaria's capital, and later commented that such slums should not exist in Europe and that minorities should be integrated. He took part in a joint press conference with Binev, during which nationalist politician Volen Siderov interrupted proceedings to accuse UKIP of racism. This led to "an angry and rude exchange of words between him and Binev." During the conference, Nuttall said: "There are obviously a large number of Bulgarians who are looking to come to Britain for a better life and they can’t be blamed for that. Bulgaria is going through serious problems, endemic corruption, an economy that has flat-lined, and I suspect their youngest and brightest will try to find work."

Nuttall predicted that the UK "will probably be out of the EU by 2020" in April 2013. His speech to UKIP's 2013 conference was praised by some, including Isabel Hardman of The Spectator, who wrote: "Nuttall’s speech was more impressive and powerful that the slightly sweaty offering his boss gave a few minutes after him. The question is whether this northern MEP can become a brand in his own right in the way that Farage has managed to."

Second term in the European Parliament, 2014–present

In 2014, Nuttall was returned to the European Parliament at the European election and is currently one of two UKIP MEPs representing the constituency of North West England. In 2015, he once again contested Bootle, and came second behind Labour, with a 10.9% vote share.

He announced in July 2016 that he would not stand in the September 2016 UKIP leadership election following the resignation of Nigel Farage and that he would step down as Deputy Leader of the party. In October 2016, Nuttall announced that he would run in the second UKIP leadership election of 2016, triggered when Diane James, leader for 18 days after the first 2016 leadership election, announced she was to stand down.

On 28 November 2016, following the second 2016 leadership election, he became leader of UKIP with 62.2% of the vote.

Nuttall is standing as a UKIP candidate for the Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election, 2017. He has been investigated for possibly fraudulent claims that he was living in a house in Stoke on Trent, which was discovered to be empty and still advertised to rent, when he filed his nomination papers.

Political views

Nuttall speaking in 2009

In March 2015 Nuttall, a practising Catholic, stated that "Twelve per cent of Catholics have already indicated that they are going to vote, or have already voted, UKIP. On moral issues, we, more than any other political party, are more in line with Catholic thought. Whether it's on gender-choice, abortion or same-sex marriage, we are absolutely 100 per cent behind the Catholic Church."

During his leadership bid in 2016, Nuttall pitched himself as the unity candidate and has made Suzanne Evans co-deputy chairwoman of the party and Patrick O'Flynn as his principal political advisers, both of whom have been seen as political foes of former UKIP leader Nigel Farage. Nuttall has vowed to "replace the Labour Party in the next five years and become the patriotic party of the working people".

Nuttall has called for the establishment of an English Parliament and presented UKIP's new devolution policy at its annual conference at Eastbourne in September 2011.

Influenced by his background, Nuttall has stated that there is an urgent need for a challenge in England's politics in the early 21st century to the dominance of what he has described as "Cultural Marxism", which he accuses of "having changed the way we speak, and the way we think", adding: "They've made the downright nonsensical acceptable, and common sense unacceptable or politically 'incorrect'."

Abortion

Nuttall suggested in October 2016 that the current time limit on abortion be cut down from 24 weeks to 12 weeks. He has also criticised advertisements for abortion clinics, explaining that "Advertising abortion trivialises what is in reality killing an unborn child and the potential psychological implications for the mother are well documented. Killers such as Ian Brady and Ian Huntley have their 'human rights' and did not face the death penalty for taking the lives of children. Who is to defend the unborn child faced with a death sentence?"

Nuttall is a member of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, United Kingdom's largest pro-life organisation founded in January 1967.

British "Independence Day"

Nuttall is a supporter of observing a British Independence Day within the United Kingdom on 23 June annually. On 28 April 2016 he directly addressed U.S. President Barack Obama, publicly stating; "Don't try to block our Independence day, Mr Obama". On 23 June 2016, Nuttall said: "This is Independence Day!" with reference to the Brexit result being announced.

Burqa ban

Nuttall favours a ban on wearing burqas in public places, citing the use of video surveillance and security as the primary reason for this stance, as well as being opposed to the establishment of Sharia courts to operate alongside the UK Court system. He has also accused the EU's migration laws as allowing for the "free movement of jihad".

Capital punishment

Nutall has supported the reintroduction of capital punishment for child murderers, serial killers, and those who kill police officers. He has signed an e-petition to this effect. However, he has also stressed that it is UKIP's policy to put controversial policies such as capital punishment to a referendum before undertaking them.

Climate change

A climate change denier, Nuttall has argued for Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth to be banned from schools, calling it "a blatant piece of propaganda". He has also accused the BBC of promoting "propaganda" on climate change.

LGBT rights

Following a 2011 High Court ruling on the case of Peter and Hazelmary Bull, who refused a gay couple service in their guesthouse due to their Christian beliefs against homosexuality, Nuttall claimed the decision was a "good week for the PC brigade", saying that "What a complete joke. Aren't people allowed to live by their religious beliefs in the country anymore?" Nuttall has also opposed Labour's plans to include LGBT-inclusive sex and relationship education in schools in 2015, stating that "Rather than helping tackle problems of domestic violence and rape in future years, as given as another woolly reason for introduction, it is going to confuse and worry these little children". Upon becoming UKIP leader, Nuttall faced criticism from Daily Politics presenter Jo Coburn over a lack of diversity in his appointments of all-white men to prominent positions within UKIP. Nuttall accused Coburn of "splitting hairs" as "I've literally appointed three people. If you want diversity, Peter Whittle, my deputy, is an open homosexual."

UKIP peerages

In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Nuttall has said that it was "obscene and unfair" that no UKIP politician had been appointed to the House of Lords by the government. He has promised to hold inter-party talks with Theresa May on the issue, saying that, if peerages were given in proportion to vote count in the 2015 general election, UKIP should have 26 Lords.

United States presidential election, 2016

Before the US Presidential election of 2016, Nuttall stated repeatedly that if he were an American citizen: "I would hold my nose and vote for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate".

Since the election, he has been supportive of the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, saying that Obama "quite frankly had no time for" Britain due to "his heritage with Kenya and imperialism". He added that "Now Trump is elected... It is quite good for Britain. He was a supporter of Brexit", and that "Neither the Brexit vote nor the Trump victory was down to emotion rather than truth. They were down to the people realising the truth that the establishment was not acting in their best interests." Nuttall later garnered ridicule after describing Trump as "an anglophobe" before adding that Trump "loves" the United Kingdom. Phillip Blond argued that mocking Nuttall's language in this manner was an example of "laughing at working-class misuse of language", adding that "correcting people's speech is redolent with class [and] division"; however, others such as Oliver Kamm have disagreed with this characterisation of Nuttall's remarks.

Views on the NHS

In 2014, Nuttall said: "I would like to congratulate the coalition government for bringing a whiff of privatisation into the beleaguered National Health Service", and argued that "the very existence of the NHS stifles competition, and as competition drives quality and choice, innovation and improvements are restricted. Therefore, I believe, as long as the NHS is the 'sacred cow' of British politics, the longer the British people will suffer with a second rate health service." He also previously called the NHS "a monolithic hangover from days gone by", adding that "fortunately shall I say, we are becoming an older population and quite frankly I would like to see more free market introduced into the health service."

He subsequently moved to revisit his earlier comments, saying that he only wanted elements of the NHS (such as procurement) to be privatised in order to "streamline" the service and upon becoming party leader, Nuttall told Andrew Marr on the Sunday Politics that "Maybe at some point, in years to come within this century we'll have to have this debate [over NHS privatisation,] but it won't be under my leadership in UKIP". Following his 2016 UKIP leadership win, he has said that his party will be “committed to keeping the NHS in public hands and free at the point of delivery”.

Speaking in the run up to the Stoke Central by-election Nuttall wrote in a Daily Express article:

Let me make one thing crystal clear: in 2011 I did speak about what I saw back then as the need for more competition in the NHS via private sector involvement in things such as procurement and extending patient choice. In doing so I was merely reflecting the political debate at the time after first Labour under Blair and then the coalition under Cameron had tried to stimulate competition within the NHS. Well, I hold my hands up. I was quite simply wrong to think that either Blair or Brown’s Labour or Cameron’s Conservatives were on to something. It didn’t work. It meant the NHS was constantly being reorganised and dedicated professionals were not trusted to get on with what they do best: delivering high quality care. So I was proud to stand at the last general election on a manifesto that included a fully costed and independently audited pledge to plough £3billion a year extra into the NHS and another £1.2billion into adult social care.The truth is that Ukip has never stood on an agenda of privatising the NHS and we never will. We are a party whose members and voters tend to be people who have paid into the national insurance pot for many years."

Vladimir Putin and the Syrian civil war

On foreign policy, Nuttall said that Russian President Vladimir Putin "is pretty much a nasty man" and that he was "not a fan" of Putin's "reprehensible" persecution of Russian journalists. However, Nuttall said that in "the Middle East, I think [Vladimir Putin] is generally getting it right ... We need to bring the conflict in Syria to an end as fast as possible." Nuttall has also said Britain "got it wrong" in "helping the so-called rebels" in the Syrian civil war. Asked about Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's barrel bombing of Syrian civilians, Nuttall said: "I wouldn't say we are some paragon of virtue when it comes to backing dictators" and that the Assad regime, which Russia is supporting militarily, is not "a threat to the globe in the way that Islamic terrorism is".

Controversies

Nicola Sturgeon comments

Paul Nuttall courted controversy on social media due to a tweet he made in the context of the Scottish National Party wishing to vote on foxhunting legislation which affected only England and Wales. Referring to the death of Emily Davison, Nuttall said that, "Tuesday is Emmeline Pankhurst Day, and whilst I am not going to throw myself in front of a horse to make my point about British democracy on this occasion ... perhaps we should throw [Nicola] Sturgeon in front of a hunt horse as part of the commemorations." An SNP spokesperson responded, saying that "Even by UKIP's standards this is a deeply crass comment. Political debate should be conducted in a respectful manner."

Hillsborough claims

Nuttall spoke of his experience at the 1989 Hillsborough disaster in 2009 and voiced his support for an enquiry while serving as UKIP Chairman that same year. He attended the 20th year remembrance memorial service and was critical of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's decision not to attend. He also discussed the matter on national television in 2015 on BBC Television's Question Time.

An article published by The Guardian in February 2017 cast doubt on his presence at the disaster, stating that his school had tried to account for all pupils who had been present there, and he was not on their list. Nuttall insisted the claims were true and presented a letter of support from his father, adding in a newspaper interview that he did not like to talk about the disaster.

A 2011 article on his website quoted him saying that he had lost "close personal friends" at Hillsborough, but in a radio interview during the build-up to the 2017 Stoke by-election he stated that the article was incorrect. He denied responsibility for the posting or the quotation, saying that although he knew people who had died at Hillsborough, none of them were "close personal friends".

Media

Nuttall is one of UKIP's media spokespeople and frequently appears on national radio, including BBC Radio 5 Live and Talksport. He has appeared several times on BBC One's Question Time and BBC Radio 4's Any Questions?. He has had a somewhat stormy relationship with the Liverpool Echo who had recycled a user description of him as a "Bad Bootle meff".

External links

• Official website