The Brexit Party, led by Nigel Farage, has announced a charity director as one of its candidates for the upcoming European Parliament elections.
Matthew Patten, who was chief executive of the Mayor’s Fund for London from 2012 to 2018, announced this morning that he would be running for the newly-formed Eurosceptic party, saying he felt a “deep sense that British politics is being broken”.
Patten, who has held roles in the sector for 15 years including a stint until February this year as interim chief executive at children’s charity the Martin James Foundation.
He also worked as senior project consultant for BBC Children in Need last year, and was chief executive of cricket charity Lord’s Taverners from 2008 to 2012.
'Unlocking Britain’s potential'
In a YouTube video announcing his candidacy, Patten said: “I’m standing for the Brexit Party because I believe in unlocking Britain’s potential.
“For nearly 15 years I have worked for some of Britain’s leading charities, helping children and young people and families in some of our most challenging communities.
“We all share a burning desire to put trust back into our political system. The thing that we all really share is a deep sense that trust is British politics is being broken.
“I am standing for The Brexit Party because I want to change politics for good.”
Patten did not say in which region he will be running as a candidate.
Other candidates for the party announced so far include Farage, journalist Annunziata Rees-Mogg and former director-general of British Chambers of Commerce John Longworth.
The European Parliament elections are due to be held on 23 May, however, the UK is currently scheduled to leave the European Union by 31 October so it is likely successful candidates will only hold their seats for a few months.
Launched in January by Farage and former UKIP spokesperson Catherine Blaiklock, the Brexit Party was Britain’s highest polling party in a poll last week by YouGov on the public’s voting intentions for the European elections.
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