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UKIP to push 'independence' theme UKIP denies name change reports
(about 8 hours later)
The UK Independence Party will campaign in May's English local elections as The Independence Party, its leader Nigel Farage has told the BBC. The UK Independence Party (UKIP) will be keeping its name despite reports it would change to The Independence Party, leader Nigel Farage has told the BBC.
He likened it to the Labour Party campaigning as New Labour in 1997. Dismissing reports of a name change, he said the party's campaign in May's English local elections would be based on the general theme of independence.
Mr Farage said the party still wanted independence from Europe but wanted to stress its call for more independence for things like hospitals and schools. Mr Farage said the party still wanted independence from Europe.
He said research had been commissioned into whether to permanently change the party's name, colours and pound logo. But it wanted to stress its call for more independence for things like hospitals and schools, he said.
In a statement on the UKIP website Mr Farage said: "We must open our eyes to possible changes. "We've developed a detailed domestic manifesto and we have to reflect that in our campaigning," he told the BBC's The World Tonight programme.
"When we adopted the pound sign as our logo, it was superb, as it said what we stood for. That logo now marks an historical victory rather than an aspiration for the future: we must look at alternatives. The state is telling us far too much what we can and can't do Nigel Farage
"We think the word independence means not just independence from the European Union but it means independence from local government and it means independence for the individual from the state.
"The state is telling us far too much what we can and can't do."
Mr Farage said research had been commissioned into whether to permanently change the party's name, colours and pound logo.
In an earlier statement on the UKIP site he said: "When we adopted the pound sign as our logo, it was superb, as it said what we stood for. That logo now marks an historical victory rather than an aspiration for the future - we must look at alternatives.
"No decision will be made, however, without full consultation of the membership.""No decision will be made, however, without full consultation of the membership."
Mr Farage said the party wanted independence from the EU, independence for public services from Whitehall and independence for individuals from government attempts to interfere in social lives in a way "that we find unacceptable".
Mr Farage, who became leader of UKIP last September, has been keen to try and broaden the appeal of the party, which has often been seen as focused on the single issue of Europe.Mr Farage, who became leader of UKIP last September, has been keen to try and broaden the appeal of the party, which has often been seen as focused on the single issue of Europe.