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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. Former Conservative MP Neil Hamilton has been elected leader of UKIP's seven-strong group in the Welsh Assembly, after he 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. Mr Gill told BBC Wales the defeat was "not the nicest feeling in the world".
He was backed by three UKIP AMs while four supported Mr Hamilton.
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. Mr 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.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. The additional payment is £13,000 plus £1,000 for every member - UKIP has seven AMs, giving a total of £20,000 in additional payments.
Mr Gill told BBC Wales the day's events were "slightly bizarre".
"I guess only UKIP can do this kind of thing, replace somebody whose taken us to our greatest victory in domestic politics and then the AMs that got there, over half of them, four of the seven, decided to replace me as leader."
"Obviously it doesn't feel brilliantly. But lets face it, we've got a job to do.
"As far I'm concerned that job is on the 23rd of June for us to vote to leave the EU. That will now become my focus."
Mr Gill said Mr Hamilton's position as leader of the group of AMs did not "technically" make him leader of the party in Wales.
"I wouldn't need to insist that. That is the reality of the position."
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.
"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."
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.
Labour AM Mark Drakeford, health minister in the previous assembly, said: "I've heard UKIP say that the assembly won't be the same - it certainly won't be.
"Having to deal with them is not something I will look forward to."