Steve Crowther

{{Short description|British politician (born 1957)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Stephen Crowther

|image = Steve Crowther 2016 (crop).jpg

|office = Leader of the UK Independence Party

|termlabel = Acting

|deputy = Peter Whittle

|term_start = 9 June 2017

|term_end = 29 September 2017

|predecessor = Paul Nuttall

|successor = Henry Bolton

|office1 = Chair of the UK Independence Party

|leader1 = Nigel Farage

|term_start1 = 8 November 2010

|term_end1 = 5 July 2016

|predecessor1 = Paul Nuttall

|successor1 = Paul Oakden

|birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1957|01}}

|birth_place =

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = UK Independence Party (until 2018)

}}

Stephen James Crowther (born January 1957) is a former acting leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP). On 9 June 2017, he succeeded Paul Nuttall who stepped down after the party failed to win any seats in the 2017 UK general election.Jon Sharman, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-new-interim-leader-paul-nuttall-resign-election-latest-steve-crowther-farage-a7782996.html "Ukip appoints interim leader after Paul Nuttall's resignation"], The Independent, 9 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.

Crowther had previously been UKIP party chairman, a position from which he resigned in July 2016 a few weeks after the EU referendum.[http://www.ukip.org/statement_from_steve_crowther_resignation_as_ukip_party_chairman "Statement from Steve Crowther - Resignation as UKIP Party Chairman"], UKIP website, posted 5 July 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2017. In 2014, as part of UKIP's efforts to avoid growing embarrassment from online racist comments by members, he advised members not to join Facebook or Twitter.Heather Saul, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukips-advice-for-members-thinking-of-joining-twitter-and-facebook-just-dont-9937643.html "Ukip warns members not to join Facebook or Twitter"], The Independent, 20 December 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2017.

In late 2015, he was called the "absentee Chairman" by Matthew Goodwin in his sequel book on the history of UKIP.

Crowther has been the UKIP candidate for North Devon three times. In the 2017 general election he polled the second-fewest votes in the constituency. He is a retired trade journalist and writer who ran an advertising agency in London.Abbie Bray, [http://www.devonlive.com/north-devon-s-steve-crowther-to-lead-ukip/story-30381323-detail/story.html#BDCMW73AskdccmAj.99 "New UKIP leader is Devon's Steve Crowther"], DevonLive.com, 9 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017. Considered as an interim leader of UKIP, Crowther said he would launch the process for the election of a more permanent party leader.[http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2017-06-09/steve-crowther-named-as-new-ukip-leader/ "Steve Crowther named as new UKIP Leader"], ITV News, 9 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.

He resigned from UKIP in December 2018.{{cite web |author=Tom Rayner, Sky News |url=https://twitter.com/RaynerSkyNews/status/1071081028394065927 |title="New: Former Acting UKIP leader Steve Crowther confirms he has left the party. He told Sky News: "I have been thinking for some time whether to renew my membership, after it expired last month, and I have come to the conclusion I will not"" |publisher= |website=Twitter |date=7 December 2018 |accessdate=7 December 2018}}