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Paul Nuttall confirmed as Ukip candidate for Stoke byelection Paul Nuttall confirmed as Ukip candidate for Stoke byelection
(35 minutes later)
The Ukip leader, Paul Nuttall, has been confirmed as the party’s candidate to fight the crucial Stoke-on-Trent Central byelection next month, underlining the party’s belief that it has a strong chance of seizing the former Labour stronghold.The Ukip leader, Paul Nuttall, has been confirmed as the party’s candidate to fight the crucial Stoke-on-Trent Central byelection next month, underlining the party’s belief that it has a strong chance of seizing the former Labour stronghold.
Nuttall emerged triumphant after hustings alongside other shortlisted candidates on Friday night, setting the scene for a contest that will illuminate the shape of post-Brexit politics in England – Stoke voted 65.7% for leave in the EU referendum – but also Jeremy Corbyn’s popularity as Labour leader. Nuttall emerged triumphant after hustings alongside other shortlisted candidates on Friday night, setting the scene for a contest that will illuminate the shape of post-Brexit politics in England. Stoke voted 65.7% for leave in the EU referendum, and the contest is also a test of Jeremy Corbyn’s popularity as Labour leader.
Speaking at the launch of his campaign to be elected to Labour safe seat recently vacated by Tristram Hunt he set out his stall for gaining Ukip’s second parliamentary seat in an area that voted overwhelmingly for Brexit. Speaking at the launch of his campaign to be elected the seat Tristram Hunt recently vacated, he set out his stall for gaining Ukip’s second parliamentary seat.
“I will raise the issues that the establishment parties would prefer to brush under the carpet from tackling the spread of radical islam to having pride in England and that includes us having our own parliament,” he told supporters. “I will raise the issues that the establishment parties would prefer to brush under the carpet from tackling the spread of radical islam to having pride in England, and that includes us having our own parliament,” he told supporters.
“I am sick and tired of Englishness being the one national identity that’s not allowed to speak its mind. I’m English and proud of it. And unlike Labour I’m also proud of our flag.“I am sick and tired of Englishness being the one national identity that’s not allowed to speak its mind. I’m English and proud of it. And unlike Labour I’m also proud of our flag.
“I will champion the issues that matter to the people of Stoke on Trent. I will make the argument for proper immigration controls… and for rebuilding our magnificent armed forces.” “I will champion the issues that matter to the people of Stoke-on-Trent. I will make the argument for proper immigration controls … and for rebuilding our magnificent armed forces.”
Within Ukip itself, the byelection presents a test of electoral support for a 40-year-old seeking to escape the shadow of Nigel Farage. Nuttall will hope he can achieve something that Farage never managed in seven attempts: namely winning a parliamentary seat and in doing so become Ukip’s second Westminster MP. Within Ukip, the byelection presents a test of electoral support for a 40-year-old seeking to escape the shadow of Nigel Farage. Nuttall will hope he can achieve something that Farage never managed in seven attempts, to win a parliamentary seat and in doing so become Ukip’s second Westminster MP.
Such success would consolidate Nuttall’sleadership credentials and, according to most commentators, galvanise Ukip to take further seats from Labour. Such success would consolidate Nuttall’s leadership credentials and, according to most commentators, galvanise Ukip to take further seats from Labour.
Shortly after an official announcement from Ukip at 11am in Stoke-on-Trent that Nuttall had been selected, the party’s leader tweeted that he was proud to have been chosen. Shortly after an official announcement from Ukip at 11am that Nuttall had been selected, he tweeted that he was proud to have been chosen.
The byelection was triggered by the resignation of Hunt, a leading Labour moderate, who stood down to become director of London’s V&A museum. The vote to replace Hunt will take place on 23 February, the same day as a byelection in Copeland, Cumbria, which was prompted by the resignation of another Labour MP, Jamie Reed. Appealing directly to Labour’s working class electoral base, he pledged: “I will fight to have the bedroom tax scrapped, I will fight for jobs that pay a decent wage.
He added that he wanted to “give back to working people what they once enjoyed as standard –a house, a car and a holiday too.”
Referring to immigration, one of the concerns repeatedly raised ahead of the EU referendum, he added: “I will fight to see people with a longstanding local connections prioritised on housing lists and forces veterans put to the front of the queue.”
He said that in an era of political upsets: “This byelection can herald a new age of British politics. An age when people kick back and revolt against their political overlords.”
The byelection was triggered by the resignation of Hunt, a leading Labour moderate, who stood down to become director of London’s V&A museum.
The vote to replace him will take place on 23 February, the same day as the Copeland byelection in Cumbria, which was prompted by the resignation of another Labour MP, Jamie Reed.
Nuttall decided to gamble on the Stoke seat, held by Hunt at the 2015 election with a majority of just over 5,500 from Ukip, with the Conservatives in third place.Nuttall decided to gamble on the Stoke seat, held by Hunt at the 2015 election with a majority of just over 5,500 from Ukip, with the Conservatives in third place.
Losing the seat, which Labour has held since 1950 when it had a vote share of 66%, would be a crushing defeat to Corbyn. Twenty years ago the seat was one of Labour’s safest but its majority has since fallen to 17%, with Ukip surging by 18 points to take second place in 2015. Losing the seat, which Labour has held since 1950 when it had a vote share of 66%, would be a crushing defeat for Corbyn. Twenty years ago the seat was one of Labour’s safest, but its majority has since fallen to 17%, with Ukip surging by 18 points to take second place in 2015.
Nuttall became leader in November, with a stated intention to seek support from former Labour voters and move the party on from the dominance of Farage. Nuttall became leader in November, with a stated intention of seeking support from former Labour voters and move the party on from Farage’s dominance.