UKIP members arrive for conference
UKIP members have gathered in the South West today for the start of the party's annual conference as it begins the process of electing a new leader.
The two-day event in Torquay will see an interim leader selected to replace Lord Pearson, after his surprise resignation last month.
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The conference should see the opening battle for the permanent job, with potential candidates expected to show their hands.
They could include Professor Tim Congdon, the renowned Bristol economist who advised the Conservatives in the 1990s.
South West MEP Lord Dartmouth, the grandson of romantic novelist Barbara Cartland and stepbrother of Princess Diana, has said he will only stand if former leader Nigel Farage does not.
And former senior Bank of England official Eric Edmonds, from Somerset, could be a surprise candidate if he feels he can gather enough support.
Mr Farage, who addresses the conference today , has said he may stand again, depending on his physical fitness.
He quit as leader last year to focus on his failed bid to become an MP, and suffered serious injuries in a plane crash on polling day.
The conference will hear from the former Labour MP Lord Stoddart of Swindon, Petr Mach, the leader of the new Czech Eurosceptic party, the Free Citizens Party, and a special mystery speaker.
2 Comments
by David Bushby, Perthshire
Saturday, September 04 2010, 10:23PM
“Let us face it, UKIP is the only party committed to restoring power to Westminster. It is high time and with the acknowledged support that the party has nationwide the BBC reported the affairs and aspirations of UKIP fairly and impartially. Ross Hawkins interview on the Friday this week was both cynical and irrelevent. At the EU elections the party came second after the Tories and for Hawkins to suggest that they should have bowed out to the Tories in the last UK election is sheer nonsense. The LIB/LAB/CON are hell bent on selling our country to the un-elected bureaucrats and failed politicians in Brussels.
Honesty and truth are rare attributes amongst polititicians and the media so I for one live in hope with UKIP. It is a young party and in 13 years has achieved much. Rome was not built in a day. Here's to a successful conference. Sorry that I can not be there!”
by Edward Stockton, Somerset
Friday, September 03 2010, 10:43PM
“It's that time of year when the political faries appear. With Lord ( i haven't a clue about politics) Pearson gone it's time to elect another headbanger. Guess who is in the running again,yes that's right Nigel (Loop the loop) Farage. What a complete shambles. I look forward to having another good laugh when he takes the stage. It's about time these sad people realised that they are fluttering in the wind and will never get anywhere. After Lord Pearson's leadership they just a laughing stock.”