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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 said he was leaving the UKIP Senedd group as "infighting" had become a "distraction" from its work.Mr Gill said he was leaving the UKIP Senedd group as "infighting" had become a "distraction" from its 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."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 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.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 Mr Gill 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.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.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.""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."
UKIP Wales chairman Chris Smart called Mr Gill's departure from the party's assembly group "inevitable".
"Nathan has played no part in the group and did not attend yesterday's group [meeting]," he said.
"He should now resign from the assembly having been elected as a UKIP member."
Assembly rules do not require AMs leaving a political group to resign and seek re-election.Assembly rules do not require AMs leaving a political group to resign and seek re-election.
In 2009, Plaid Cymru AM Mohammad Asghar defected to the Conservatives, while a number of AMs have sat as independents - some temporarily - after disputes resulting in suspension from their party groups.In 2009, Plaid Cymru AM Mohammad Asghar defected to the Conservatives, while a number of AMs have sat as independents - some temporarily - after disputes resulting in suspension from their party groups.
Analysis by Paul Martin, BBC Wales political reporterAnalysis by Paul Martin, BBC Wales political reporter
This is a culmination of months of arguments between Nathan Gill, the face of UKIP's assembly election campaign, and Neil Hamilton, who beat Mr Gill in a vote to become the party's assembly group leader.This is a culmination of months of arguments between Nathan Gill, the face of UKIP's assembly election campaign, and Neil Hamilton, who beat Mr Gill in a vote to become the party's assembly group leader.
There have been public disputes on several matters since then - Mr Gill's camp attacking Mr Hamilton for not living in Wales, while Mr Hamilton and his supporters criticise Mr Gill for serving as both an AM and an MEP.There have been public disputes on several matters since then - Mr Gill's camp attacking Mr Hamilton for not living in Wales, while Mr Hamilton and his supporters criticise Mr Gill for serving as both an AM and an MEP.
The two factions also represent a wider split in UKIP - in simplistic terms, wings of the party which are for and against outgoing leader Nigel Farage.The two factions also represent a wider split in UKIP - in simplistic terms, wings of the party which are for and against outgoing leader Nigel Farage.
I am told Mr Gill mulled this over while away on holiday last week and has decided enough is enough.I am told Mr Gill mulled this over while away on holiday last week and has decided enough is enough.
The tone of Mr Hamilton's response illustrates how sour the relationship has become.The tone of Mr Hamilton's response illustrates how sour the relationship has become.
So, just over three months since the assembly election, the UKIP group is down from seven to six - the breakdown all about personality rather than policy.So, just over three months since the assembly election, the UKIP group is down from seven to six - the breakdown all about personality rather than policy.