The 2018 UK Independence Party leadership election was triggered after members voted to remove Henry Bolton as leader of the

UK Independence Party The UK Independence Party (UKIP, ) is a Eurosceptic, right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. The party reached its greatest level of success in the mid-2010s, when it gained two members of parliament (both through defect ...

at an extraordinary general meeting held in Birmingham on 17 February 2018. It was the fourth UKIP leadership election in eighteen months. Interim leader

Gerard Batten Gerard Joseph Batten (born 27 March 1954) is a British politician who served as the Leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) from 2018 to 2019. He was a founding member of the party in 1993, and served as a Member of the European Parliament ( ...

was ultimately elected unopposed as the party's new leader.

Background

After the UK's referendum on EU membership in June 2016 resulted in a vote to leave the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

, then-leader of UKIP Nigel Farage announced his resignation. In September 2016,

Diane James Diane Martine James (born 20 November 1959) is a British politician who was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South East England from 2014 to 2019. She was briefly leader-elect of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) from September 2 ...

was elected to succeed him, but resigned after 18 days, triggering another leadership election. Held in November 2016, it was won by

Paul Nuttall Paul Andrew Nuttall (born 30 November 1976) is a British politician who served as Leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) from 2016 to 2017. He was elected to the European Parliament in 2009 as a UK Independence Party (UKIP) candidate, and ...

. Nuttall led the party into the

2017 UK general election The 2017 United Kingdom general election was held on Thursday 8 June 2017, two years after the 2015 United Kingdom general election, previous general election in 2015; it was the first since 1992 United Kingdom general election, 1992 to be held ...

, but resigned after UKIP's vote share fell from 12.6% to 1.8% and the party failed to win any parliamentary seats. Henry Bolton was elected to succeed Nuttall in September 2017. In January 2018, UKIP's NEC passed a motion of no confidence in Bolton, following controversy about his personal life. Bolton refused to step down, which triggered an emergency general meeting. This meeting was held on 17 February 2018, and those attending voted by 867 votes to 500 to remove him as leader.

took over as interim leader and the leadership election had to be held within 90 days, before 18 May 2018.

Bill Etheridge William Milroy Etheridge (born 18 March 1970) is an English politician who was previously a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the West Midlands (European Parliament constituency), West Midlands region. He was elected in 2014 European P ...

, an MEP who had twice stood for the leadership previously, initially announced his intention to stand again, but then withdrew to support Batten. Batten proposed, in order to avoid the expense of a leadership election, that he be elected uncontested to serve a 12-month term. ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'' understood that the party was trying to ensure an uncontested leadership election by raising financial and membership requirements.

Candidates

Declared

, acting UKIP leader; UKIP Exiting the EU Spokesperson; MEP for London; leadership candidate in 2009

Withdrew

, MEP for the West Midlands; 2017; leadership candidate in September 2016 and November 2016

Declined

Tim Aker Timür Mark "Tim" Aker (born 23 May 1985) is a British politician who was a Member of the European Parliament for the East of England region. He was elected as a UK Independence Party (UKIP) candidate in 2014. He was head of UKIP's Policy Unit ...

, UKIP MEP for the East of England;

Thurrock Independents The Thurrock Independents, also known as the Thurrock Independents Party (TIP), was a localist and populist British political party based in Thurrock, Essex, England. It was formed in January 2018 when seventeen Thurrock councillors, includi ...

councillor * Henry Bolton, former UKIP leader (left party) *

Nigel Farage Nigel Paul Farage ( ; born 3 April 1964) is a British politician and broadcaster who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton and Leader of Reform UK since 20 ...

, former UKIP leader; MEP for South East England *

Mike Hookem Michael Hookem (born 9 October 1953) is a British politician who served as Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Yorkshire and the Humber (European Parliament constituency), Yorkshire and the Humber from 2014 European Parliament election ...

, UKIP Fisheries Spokesperson; MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber *

David Kurten David Michael Kurten (born 22 March 1971) is a British politician who has served as leader of the Heritage Party since September 2020. He was previously a member of the London Assembly (AM) for Londonwide from 2016 to 2021. Elected as a UK Ind ...

, UKIP Education Spokesperson; member of the London Assembly; leadership candidate in November 2016 and 2017

Result

Batten was elected unopposed, and announced he would resign in 12 months' time.

References

{{UKIP UK Independence Party leadership election

2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...

UK Independence Party leadership election UK Independence Party leadership election UK Independence Party leadership election Uncontested elections