Gerard Batten vs Michael Sata

Batten was elected as a Member of the European Parliament for London in 2004, serving until 2019. He was known for his eurosceptic views and opposition to the Lisbon Treaty, and was a vocal critic of the European Union.

Gerard Batten was elected leader of UKIP, succeeding Henry Bolton. His leadership marked a shift toward a more hardline anti-Islam stance, which led to internal splits and the departure of several senior party figures.

Batten appointed far-right activist Tommy Robinson as an advisor to UKIP, a move that was widely condemned and led to further internal party conflict. The decision was seen as an attempt to appeal to anti-Islam voters but alienated moderate members.

Batten resigned as UKIP leader after a poor performance in the 2019 European Parliament elections, where UKIP lost all its seats. His tenure was marked by declining party membership and electoral collapse.

Sata introduced policies including a windfall tax on mining profits, increased minimum wage, and subsidies for farmers. These measures aimed to redistribute wealth but faced criticism from business and investors.

Sata won the presidential election as the candidate of the Patriotic Front, defeating incumbent Rupiah Banda. His victory marked the first peaceful transfer of power to an opposition party in Zambia's history.

Sata died at a London hospital on October 28, 2014, after a prolonged illness. His death triggered a constitutional crisis over succession, eventually resolved by the vice president assuming office.