PoliticsNigel Farage UKIPukipuk news

Disgraced Ex-Tory MP Neil Hamilton Hopes To Become Ukip MP

Disgraced Ex-Tory MP Neil Hamilton Hopes To Become Ukip MP
The Huffington Post UK
|
Open Image Modal
TORQUAY, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: UKIP campaign director Neil Hamilton speaks at the UKIP 2014 Spring Conference at the Riviera International on February 28, 2014 in Torquay, England. The anti-European Union UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage is looking to galvanise support ahead of May's European Parliament elections when they hope to win the most seats in the contest, building on its strong poll ratings and success in last year's local elections. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Matt Cardy via Getty Images

Neil Hamilton, the disgraced former Tory MP who is now deputy chairman of Ukip, has revealed he is bidding to become Ukip's candidate for the parliamentary seat of Boston and Skegness.

Hamilton, whose name become synonymous with sleaze after being embroiled in a "cash-for-questions" affair in the 1990s, told the Skegness Standard: “I have put my application in. They’re getting together a shortlist and I hope to be on that.

“Several people in Boston and Skegness UKIP have asked me to put my hat into the ring. Dick Body, the former MP, was a great friend of mine. We were very close when I was an MP - I want to follow in the tradition that he set.”

The local party will draw up a shortlist of candidates from the applications, with a hustings set to take place on September 11. Conservative Mark Simmonds, currently MP for Boston and Skegness, recently said he would stand down from parliament next year as he claimed that he was struggling to live in London, despite having a £27,000 taxpayer funded housing allowance.

Hamilton's attempt to bounce back into parliament comes after he failed in May's local elections to be elected a councillor in Wandsworth.

The Ukip deputy chairman's promise to "follow in the tradition" set by his predecessor will hopefully mean he will not feel the need to repeat stunts like stepping into a see-through box to dance while comedian Johnny Vegas chucks fish at him.

See also:

Carswell defects to UKIP
Conservative MP Douglas Carswell Defects To UKIP(01 of16)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Member of Parliament Douglas Carswell is fitted with an earpiece prior to being interviewed in Westminster after announcing he is switching from the Conservative party to UKIP on August 28, 2014 in London, England. Mr Carswell, the MP for Clacton who holds Eurosceptic views, has resigned as an MP and will contest the subsequent by-election for UKIP. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Oli Scarff via Getty Images)
Conservative MP Douglas Carswell Defects To UKIP(02 of16)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Member of Parliament Douglas Carswell is interviewed in Westminster after announcing he is switching from the Conservative party to UKIP on August 28, 2014 in London, England. Mr Carswell, the MP for Clacton who holds Eurosceptic views, has resigned as an MP and will contest the subsequent by-election for UKIP. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Oli Scarff via Getty Images)
Conservative MP Douglas Carswell Defects To UKIP(03 of16)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Nigel Farage (L), the Leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), listens as Member of Parliament Douglas Carswell is interviewed in Westminster after announcing he is switching from the Conservative party to UKIP on August 28, 2014 in London, England. Mr Carswell, the MP for Clacton who holds Eurosceptic views, has resigned as an MP and will contest the subsequent by-election for UKIP. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Oli Scarff via Getty Images)
Conservative MP Douglas Carswell Defects To UKIP(04 of16)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Member of Parliament Douglas Carswell is interviewed in Westminster after announcing he is switching from the Conservative party to UKIP on August 28, 2014 in London, England. Mr Carswell, the MP for Clacton who holds Eurosceptic views, has resigned as an MP and will contest the subsequent by-election for UKIP. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Oli Scarff via Getty Images)
BRITAIN-POLITICS-VOTE-UKIP(05 of16)
Open Image Modal
Former British Conservative Party MP Douglas Carswell (R) addresses a press conference in central London on August 28, 2014, with UKIP Party leader Nigel Farage (L). British MP Douglas Carswell dealt a heavy blow to Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday as he announced he was to leave the Conservative Party and join the UK Independence Party (UKIP). AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)
BRITAIN-POLITICS-VOTE-UKIP(06 of16)
Open Image Modal
Former British Conservative Party MP Douglas Carswell (R) addresses a press conference in central London on August 28, 2014, with UKIP Party leader Nigel Farage (L). British MP Douglas Carswell dealt a heavy blow to Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday as he announced he was to leave the Conservative Party and join the UK Independence Party (UKIP). AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)
Carswell defects to UKIP(07 of16)
Open Image Modal
UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
Carswell defects to UKIP(08 of16)
Open Image Modal
UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
Carswell defects to UKIP(09 of16)
Open Image Modal
UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
Carswell defects to UKIP(10 of16)
Open Image Modal
UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
Carswell defects to UKIP(11 of16)
Open Image Modal
UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
Carswell defects to UKIP(12 of16)
Open Image Modal
UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
Carswell defects to UKIP(13 of16)
Open Image Modal
UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
Carswell defects to UKIP(14 of16)
Open Image Modal
UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
Carswell defects to UKIP(15 of16)
Open Image Modal
UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
Carswell defects to UKIP(16 of16)
Open Image Modal
UKIP leader Nigel Farage (right) with Douglas Carswell after a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip