Paul Nuttall’s extraordinary tailspin continues as Ukip fields candidates in HALF the UK
Troubled political party will help some pro-Brexit MPs by not contesting their seats
UKIP's extraordinary tailspin continued as it emerged the party is fielding candidates in barely half of the country.
Just 377 Ukip candidates will stand in the June 8 General Election, according to the provisional full list of nominations - a huge drop on 2015 when the party contested nearly all of the 650 constituencies in the UK.
Paul Nuttall said his party would help some pro-Brexit MPs by withdrawing candidates from their seats.
But a total of just 159 MPs voted Brexit last year - leaving more than 100 pro-Remain MPs uncontested by Ukip.
The total of 377 represents a fall of 247 on the number Ukip stood just two years ago.
It comes after The Sun revealed last month that the party was struggling to find wannabe MPs and was also hit with funding shortfalls after one of its biggest donors Arron Banks deserted the party.
Tory candidate Charlie Elphicke said it was “no surprise” to see Ukip struggling to find candidates.
He said: “Speaking to people on the doorstep they all say UKIP has done it’s job and there’s no point to it any more.
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“Nearly everyone I’ve spoken to who voted UKIP at the last election says they will now be backing Theresa May.
“It’s clear people feel strongly that only the Conservatives can deliver a successful Brexit for Britain.”
The Green party has also cut its number of candidates - contesting 468 seats, down by 105 on 2015.
At least 29 seats uncontested by Ukip are marginals - which will help hand Theresa May a landslide on June 8.
The Tories will gain 26 seats if they win back the majority of Ukip’s 2015 voters, analysis suggests.
Mr Nuttall said the party was doing the “noble thing” by standing aside in seats with pro-Leave MPs and insisted Ukip was putting “country above party”.
But the Lib Dems claimed Ukip was standing aside for the Tories “because they know Theresa May has adopted their divisive agenda wholesale”.
A total of 3,300 candidates are standing - the lowest number at any UK general election since 1992.