This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-36289883
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UKIP's Neil Hamilton 'could take party backwards' | UKIP's Neil Hamilton 'could take party backwards' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| UKIP's electoral success in Wales could be "undone" by Neil Hamilton becoming leader of the party's assembly group, a UKIP branch chairman has said. | UKIP's electoral success in Wales could be "undone" by Neil Hamilton becoming leader of the party's assembly group, a UKIP branch chairman has said. |
| Mr Hamilton defeated UKIP Wales leader Nathan Gill in a vote of the party's seven newly-elected AMs on Tuesday. | Mr Hamilton defeated UKIP Wales leader Nathan Gill in a vote of the party's seven newly-elected AMs on Tuesday. |
| Newport branch chairman James Peterson told BBC Wales Mr Hamilton's victory could take the party "backwards". | Newport branch chairman James Peterson told BBC Wales Mr Hamilton's victory could take the party "backwards". |
| Mr Hamilton said the party had been going backwards, but he will "create the momentum to push it forward". | Mr Hamilton said the party had been going backwards, but he will "create the momentum to push it forward". |
| UKIP's Islwyn candidate Joe Smyth said the former Tory MP "ticks all the boxes for being a leader". | UKIP's Islwyn candidate Joe Smyth said the former Tory MP "ticks all the boxes for being a leader". |
| Mr Gill remains leader of the party in Wales, having been appointed by Nigel Farage in 2014. | Mr Gill remains leader of the party in Wales, having been appointed by Nigel Farage in 2014. |
| Deep divisions have been exposed within UKIP Wales since its AMs met to elect their group leader. | Deep divisions have been exposed within UKIP Wales since its AMs met to elect their group leader. |
| One senior party member said he "can't see Mr Hamilton uniting the party". Another said he was "making enemies". | One senior party member said he "can't see Mr Hamilton uniting the party". Another said he was "making enemies". |
| Mr Peterson told Sunday Politics Wales the result of Tuesday's vote meant those voters who backed the party at the election had been "misled". | Mr Peterson told Sunday Politics Wales the result of Tuesday's vote meant those voters who backed the party at the election had been "misled". |
| "I think it's reasonable for people to have presumed Nathan Gill would be in charge and I think that's what people went out and voted for," he said. | "I think it's reasonable for people to have presumed Nathan Gill would be in charge and I think that's what people went out and voted for," he said. |
| Other members welcomed Mr Hamilton's election, accusing Mr Gill of being "weak". | Other members welcomed Mr Hamilton's election, accusing Mr Gill of being "weak". |
| Mr Smyth said: "I think it's a very good thing for UKIP having Neil elected as the group leader. | Mr Smyth said: "I think it's a very good thing for UKIP having Neil elected as the group leader. |
| "As a person he's a true gentlemen, he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge and in my books he ticks all the boxes for being a leader." | "As a person he's a true gentlemen, he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge and in my books he ticks all the boxes for being a leader." |