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The 2019 UK Independence Party leadership election took place following the departure on 2 June of Gerard Batten from the leadership of the UK Independence Party. The result was announced on 10 August 2019,[1] with Richard Braine being elected to lead the party. This was the party's fifth leadership election in three years. Braine resigned just two months later, triggering a sixth leadership election.
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On 6 May 2019, and following media reports that Batten was to step down as leader on 2 June, he said that his election in April 2018 was for a twelve-month period, and that the party's National Executive Committee had asked him to remain in office until after the European elections in May 2019.[2]
Former leader Nigel Farage was one of a number of senior party figures to leave during Batten's leadership over Batten's association with far-right activist Tommy Robinson.[3] In April 2019, Farage launched the rival Brexit Party.[4] UKIP won 24 MEPs in the 2014 European Parliament election, but 21 had left the party by the May 2019 European elections, with most defecting to The Brexit Party. It lost all three remaining MEPs, falling to 3.3% of the vote.[5]
Freddy Vachha, UKIP London Regional chairman and present General Secretary, announced his intention to run on 6 May.[6]
Mike Hookem, the party's former Member of the European Parliament for Yorkshire and the Humber, resigned as deputy leader and announced that he would run for the leadership on 24 May, criticising Batten for associating the party with the far-right.[7]
Gareth Bennett, a member for the National Assembly for Wales for UKIP, announced his candidacy on 3 June.[8] His policy platform included national identity cards and a possible referendum on bringing back the death penalty.[8][9] On 11 July, he announced his withdrawal from the race and his support for Ben Walker's bid for the leadership.[10]
Walker, a former Parliamentary candidate, member of the UKIP NEC and branch chairman, announced his candidacy on 6 June.[11]
Richard Braine, chairman of UKIP West London, and formerly a UKIP Parliamentary candidate for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner (2017), and EU Parliamentary candidate for the London Region (2019),[citation needed] also stood.
Helena Windsor, the chairman of the UKIP Surrey Branch and county councillor for Godstone from 2013 to 2017,[12] was a candidate,[13] but withdrew on 17 July, and publicly backed Mike Hookem.[14][15]
Applications for the party leadership closed on 27 June. Despite having previously said his position as leader "would be untenable" if he lost his seat in the European Parliament,[16][17] Gerard Batten announced that he would stand in the leadership election, claiming he had "overwhelming support from UKIP members".[18] The party's National Executive Committee blocked him from standing, leaving five candidates up for election.[19] Batten supported Braine instead.
| Candidate | Past and present political roles | Endorsements |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Hookem |
|
Helena Windsor |
| Freddy Vachha |
|
Stuart Agnew[citation needed] |
| Ben Walker |
|
Gareth Bennett |
| Richard Braine |
|
Gerard Batten[24] |
| Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Richard Braine |
2,935 | 52.9 | ||
| Freddy Vachha | 1,134 | 20.5 | ||
| Ben Walker | 753 | 13.6 | ||
| Mike Hookem | 717 | 13.0 | ||
| Spoilt ballots | 194 | 3.5 | ||
| Total | 5,539 | Turnout | 19.1% | |
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