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UKIP elect Gareth Bennett AM as new leader in Assembly

News | | Published: 15:04, Friday August 10th, 2018.
Last updated: 15:11, Friday August 10th, 2018

 

Gareth Bennett, AM for South Wales Central, has been a controversial character in Welsh politics since being elected to the Senedd in 2016

Gareth Bennett has been elected the new leader of UKIP in the National Assembly for Wales.

The controversial Assembly Member, who represents the South Wales Central region, beat former leaders Neil Hamilton and Caroline Jones in an election that saw members choose the leader in Wales for the first time.

The AM beat Mr Hamilton by 269 votes to 193 in the second round of counting after incumbent leader, Ms Jones, was eliminated in the first round with 130 votes.

Mr Bennett, 49, from Cardiff, has been a controversial character in Welsh politics since his election to the Senedd in 2016.

He has previously blamed Eastern European immigrants for rubbish in Cardiff as well as saying transgender people undermine society by their “deviation from the norm”.

UKIP won seven seats in the 2016 Assembly Elections, but the group has since shrunk to five following a period of turmoil and infighting.

The party won 19% of votes in Caerphilly in the 2015 UK General Election, 22% of votes in Caerphilly in the 2015 Welsh Assembly Elections and 3% of votes in Caerphilly in the 2017 UK General Election.

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