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Nathan Gill leaves UKIP assembly group to sit as independent Nathan Gill leaves UKIP assembly group to sit as independent
(35 minutes later)
UKIP Wales leader Nathan Gill has announced he is leaving the party's group in the Welsh Assembly to sit as an independent AM for North Wales.UKIP Wales leader Nathan Gill has announced he is leaving the party's group in the Welsh Assembly to sit as an independent AM for North Wales.
But he said he was not leaving the party and would remain a UKIP MEP.But he said he was not leaving the party and would remain a UKIP MEP.
Mr Gill had been threatened with expulsion from UKIP if he did not give up one of the two roles, with members in Wales due to vote on his future. Mr Gill said he was leaving the UKIP Senedd group as "infighting" had become a "distraction" from its work.
He said he was leaving the UKIP Senedd group as "infighting" had become a "distraction" from their work. UKIP group leader Neil Hamilton said he did not think Mr Gill's decision would make "much difference", claiming: "We don't see him much in the assembly."
A rift has emerged between Mr Gill and Neil Hamilton, who was chosen by a majority of UKIP's seven AMs to lead them in the Senedd following the election in May. A rift emerged between the two men when Mr Hamilton was chosen by a majority of UKIP's seven AMs to lead them in the Senedd following the election in May.
Five of the group called on him to honour his pledge to give up his seat in the European Parliament if elected to the assembly. Five of the group called on Mr Gill to honour his pledge to give up his seat in the European Parliament if elected to the assembly.
However, Mr Gill has insisted he can carry out both roles.However, Mr Gill has insisted he can carry out both roles.
The North Wales AM had been threatened with expulsion from UKIP if he did not give up one of his two elected posts, with party bosses arranging for a vote of members in Wales to decide his future.
"After much deliberation I have decided to break away from the UKIP group in the Welsh Assembly and sit as an independent," Mr Gill said in a statement on Wednesday."After much deliberation I have decided to break away from the UKIP group in the Welsh Assembly and sit as an independent," Mr Gill said in a statement on Wednesday.
"Too much time has been wasted on infighting over issues that cannot be resolved and it has become a distraction to the work we were elected to do."Too much time has been wasted on infighting over issues that cannot be resolved and it has become a distraction to the work we were elected to do.
"I remain UKIP Leader in Wales and am committed to serving my constituents.""I remain UKIP Leader in Wales and am committed to serving my constituents."
Responding to the news, Mr Hamilton said: "I haven't been officially informed - his letter must have got lost in the post.
"We'll have to do our best to survive without him - we don't see him much in the assembly so I don't think we'll notice much difference."