AN ABERYSTWYTH University alumnus has been ruled out of standing to replace Nigel Farage as UKIP leader - sparking a row within the party’s National Executive Committee.

MEP for North West England, Steven Woolfe, threw his hat into the ring to succeed Mr Farage, who stood down after he saw his party’s ambition of the UK voting to leave the European Union realised.

Mr Woolfe was ruled ineligible to stand, however, after he submitted his papers late.

The party’s NEC said it had voted by a “clear majority” to exclude Mr Woolfe, seen as one of the favourites for the top job.

Mr Woolfe said he was “extremely disappointed” by the decision, and three NEC members have quit in protest.

Announcing their resignations, Victoria Ayling, Raymond Finch and Michael McGough said in a joint statement that the party’s governing body “is no longer fit for purpose” and called for a vote of no confidence in the NEC.

They accused it of “deliberately obstructing” Mr Woolfe.

“Steven Woolfe is a popular candidate among UKIP’s members and should be permitted to represent those that wish to vote for him,” they wrote.

In a statement, the NEC said: “By a clear majority of NEC members Steven Woolfe MEP’s application was considered to be ineligible as a result of a late submission and as such he did not meet the eligibility criteria.”

Mr Woolfe graduated with a law degree from Aberystwyth in 1990.

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