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UKIP to announce its new leader Pearson elected new UKIP leader
(1 day later)
The UK Independence Party will announce its new leader later. Lord Pearson of Rannoch has been elected the new leader of UK Independence Party.
Five candidates are standing in the contest to replace Nigel Farage, who is standing down to focus on running for Parliament at the next election. He will succeed Nigel Farage, who is standing down to focus on running for Parliament at the next election.
UKIP came second to the Conservatives in June's European elections and is hoping to build on this success.UKIP came second to the Conservatives in June's European elections and is hoping to build on this success.
The leadership candidates are Lord Pearson, MEPs Gerard Batten, Mike Nattrass and Nikki Sinclaire, and Alan Wood, a councillor from Wiltshire. Lord Pearson defeated MEPs Gerard Batten, Mike Nattrass and Nikki Sinclaire, and Alan Wood, a councillor from Wiltshire, in the contest.
The result is expected to be announced at about 1500 GMT. 'EU deception'
'Insult' He gained nearly half of the approximately 9,900 votes cast by UKIP members.
Lord Pearson, who defected from the Conservatives in 2007, said it was an "enormous honour" to lead the party.
The EU can do almost anything and will Lord Pearson of Rannoch Profile: Lord Pearson of Rannoch
He accused the main parties of "deceiving" the public over Europe and said withdrawing from the EU would save the UK billions of pounds, describing the move as his "top priority".
"With the Lisbon Treaty, you really see the last nail in the coffin of our democracy," he said. "The EU can do almost anything and will."
The party's objective at the next election - in which it plans to field more than 500 candidates - would be to force a hung Parliament and bring about a "realignment" in British politics.
He said the party would still be "majoring on leaving Europe" - but he also pledged to campaign on a range of other issues including Swiss-style direct democracy, which he described as a "serious system of national and local referendums".
"I am convinced that is the only way now that the people can get round the stranglehold of their political class and take back their democracy."
He said the party's first referendum was likely to be on EU withdrawal but he envisaged plebiscites taking place on other issues when sufficient members of the public wanted them.
He promised policies "in all areas", notably tightening border controls, reforming the training of teachers and nurses, building more grammar schools and preventing the closure of post offices.
He also pledged to improve the party's organisational structure, modernising its campaigning and fundraising operations.
Mr Farage said he was "delighted" by the outcome of the election and was standing down at a time when the party had "never been more successful".
Campaign anger
Leadership ballot papers were sent to UKIP members earlier this month and they had until Thursday to vote.Leadership ballot papers were sent to UKIP members earlier this month and they had until Thursday to vote.
The contest has seen some controversy, with Mr Farage claiming that Lord Pearson, a former insurance broker, is "head and shoulders" above his rivals and any other winner could prove "tricky" for the party. UKIP LEADERSHIP RESULT Lord Pearson: 4,743Gerard Batten: 2,571Nikki Sinclaire: 1,214Mike Nattrass: 1,092Alan Wood: 315
Mr Batten has said that such comments are an "insult" and might "unduly influence" the outcome. The contest had seen some controversy, with Mr Farage claiming that Lord Pearson, a former insurance broker, was "head and shoulders" above his rivals and any other winner could prove "tricky" for the party.
Mr Batten said that such comments were an "insult" and might "unduly influence" the outcome.
UKIP, which wants the UK to withdraw from the EU, took 13 seats at the European elections but has no MPs at Westminster.UKIP, which wants the UK to withdraw from the EU, took 13 seats at the European elections but has no MPs at Westminster.
Mr Farage is running for the seat of Buckingham at the next general election, where he hopes to oust Commons Speaker John Bercow.Mr Farage is running for the seat of Buckingham at the next general election, where he hopes to oust Commons Speaker John Bercow.
Despite relinquishing the party leadership, the BBC's Political Correspondent Iain Watson said Mr Farage was still likely to remain UKIP's main spokesman and most prominent figure.