UKIP to underscore electoral successes
The anti-Europe United Kingdom Independence Party starts its annual conference today buoyed by its recent success in the Hartlepool by-election.
The two-day conference, held at Bristol’s Colston Hall, is guided by the theme of “Celebration”.
UKIP is to underscore its recent electoral successes in the European Parliament, London Assembly and local government ballots.
On Friday, UKIP pushed the Conservatives into fourth place in the Hartlepool by-election, winning 3193 votes, 149 more than Conservative candidate Jeremy Middleton.
It came in behind the Liberal Democrats and winners Labour.
In June’s European elections, UKIP secured 2.7 million votes, winning an impressive 12 MEP seats.
Robert Kilroy-Silk, MEP for the East Midlands, and former TV host, will address delegates at noon.
The UKIP’s MEPs and new London Assembly members will be paraded at the conference, including Nigel Farage MEP and Dr John Whittaker MEP.
MEPs Philippe de Villiers of the Mouvement pour la France, Jeffrey Titford, ex-leader of UKIP, and Godfrey Bloom, an expert on EU employment law, will also address members.
The anti-EU party is set to unveil a list of election target seats expected to include Conservative Party leader Michael Howard’s Folkestone and Hythe constituency and Treasury spokesman Oliver Letwin’s Dorset West seat.
Party leader Roger Knapman is due to speak at 16.50 BST, concluding the day’s proceedings.
