UKIP confirmed it will hold a leadership election after its leader Gerard Batten stepped down
on Sunday.
His successor will be the party’s seventh leader in just under
three years. Batten had been in the post since April last year and controversially appointed former English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson as his political adviser in November.
Batten was elected unopposed following the resignation of former leader Henry Bolton.
Ukip lost all of its seats at the European Parliament elections as the Brexit Party, led by former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, came first in the recent poll, gained 29 seats.
Ukip deputy leader Mike Hookem quit his role last month and announced he will run for party leader. He said he could no longer support the direction of the party under Batten’s leadership.
He added: “Mr Batten’s policy direction and associations have given the mainstream media the ammunition to label our party ‘extreme’ and ‘far right’, accusations I do not believe
to be true.”
The proposed date for the results to be declared is August 10.
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