THE UK Independent Party (Ukip) has elected a new leader.
At the national conference held at Scarborough at the weekend, former Conservative minister Roger Knapman was announced as head of the party, which is pushing for a breakaway from the European Union. He was voted in unanimously after the other candidates stood down.
Mr Knapman, who served as a government whip under Margaret Thatcher, has taken over from Jeffrey Titford, who has led the party for the past three years.
About 450 people attended the conference at the Spa Centre, on Saturday.
Peter Troy, chairman of Sedgefield branch, County Durham, said the party also pledged to get ten MEPs elected to the European elections to further its opposition to the European Union.
He said: "We're not anti-Europe, but we're opposing being part of the European Union.
"We want free trade. The European Union is an organisation we don't want to be part of."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article