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Neil Hamilton wins UKIP assembly group leadership | Neil Hamilton wins UKIP assembly group leadership |
(35 minutes later) | |
Neil Hamilton has been elected as the leader of UKIP's seven strong group in the Welsh Assembly, after the ex-Conservative MP challenged Nathan Gill for the leadership. | Neil Hamilton has been elected as the leader of UKIP's seven strong group in the Welsh Assembly, after the ex-Conservative MP challenged Nathan Gill for the leadership. |
The party's AMs met on Tuesday in the Senedd to decide who should lead them. | The party's AMs met on Tuesday in the Senedd to decide who should lead them. |
Mr Gill will continue as leader of UKIP Wales, a position appointed by UKIP leader Nigel Farage. | Mr Gill will continue as leader of UKIP Wales, a position appointed by UKIP leader Nigel Farage. |
It is understood four AMs backed Mr Hamilton and three supported Mr Gill. | It is understood four AMs backed Mr Hamilton and three supported Mr Gill. |
Before the meeting, both sides had claimed to have the numbers to win. | Before the meeting, both sides had claimed to have the numbers to win. |
'Maximum impact' | 'Maximum impact' |
UKIP assembly group leader Neil Hamilton confirmed his successful bid at an impromptu news conference in an assembly corridor. | UKIP assembly group leader Neil Hamilton confirmed his successful bid at an impromptu news conference in an assembly corridor. |
"We've achieved an outcome by consensus," he said. | "We've achieved an outcome by consensus," he said. |
"We decided to put all past differences behind us and forget the lead up to the election campaign, where there was a lot of personal animosity created. | "We decided to put all past differences behind us and forget the lead up to the election campaign, where there was a lot of personal animosity created. |
"I've been chosen to do a specific job to be leader of the UKIP AMs within the assembly. | "I've been chosen to do a specific job to be leader of the UKIP AMs within the assembly. |
"I've got great deal of parliamentary experience. I've been a government minister. | "I've got great deal of parliamentary experience. I've been a government minister. |
"I'm going to make use of that experience within the group to give UKIP the maximum amount of impact during the course of the next five years." | "I'm going to make use of that experience within the group to give UKIP the maximum amount of impact during the course of the next five years." |
Hamilton's salary will be £84,000 as leader of the UKIP assembly group. | |
This consists of an AM's salary of £64,000, plus an additional payment for being leader of an opposition group. | |
The additional payment is £13,000 plus £1,000 for every member - UKIP have seven AMs, giving a total of £20,000 in additional payments. | |
Mr Gill told an election debate in April that he probably would not have chosen Mr Hamilton as a UKIP candidate. | Mr Gill told an election debate in April that he probably would not have chosen Mr Hamilton as a UKIP candidate. |
That led Mr Hamilton's wife, Christine, to call the UKIP Wales leader a "third-rate general". | That led Mr Hamilton's wife, Christine, to call the UKIP Wales leader a "third-rate general". |
Earlier, Mr Hamilton told the BBC's Daily Politics: "UKIP wouldn't be UKIP if there weren't internal challenges. | Earlier, Mr Hamilton told the BBC's Daily Politics: "UKIP wouldn't be UKIP if there weren't internal challenges. |
"It's not a case of mounting a challenge against Nathan Gill. We haven't had any assembly members in the past. | "It's not a case of mounting a challenge against Nathan Gill. We haven't had any assembly members in the past. |
"We have to meet together, form a group and elect a leader of it." | "We have to meet together, form a group and elect a leader of it." |
Mr Hamilton said the decision taken on the group leadership would not affect Mr Gill's separate position as leader of UKIP in Wales. | Mr Hamilton said the decision taken on the group leadership would not affect Mr Gill's separate position as leader of UKIP in Wales. |
UKIP won its first ever AMs in the 5 May assembly election, claiming seven seats. | UKIP won its first ever AMs in the 5 May assembly election, claiming seven seats. |