Neil Hamilton expected to be named as UKIP candidate

FORMER Conservative MP Neil Hamilton is in line to be chosen as UKIP’s lead Mid and West Wales candidate for May’s Welsh Assembly elections.

The party is hopeful of winning its first ever seats in the Welsh Assembly through the regional list, which are decided through a form of proportional representation.

UKIP members in Wales were asked to vote on a list approved by the party’s national executive committee of candidates.

A recent ITV poll has suggested UKIP could win nine seats in the 60 member Senedd via the regional list system.

Mark Reckless, who had also been a Conservative MP before a high profile switch to UKIP during the last Parliament, is set to be selected as the lead candidate for South Wales East while its Welsh leader, Nathan Gill, will stand in North Wales.

UKIP’s national executive committee was expected to ratify the candidate lists at a meeting on Monday.

Mr Hamilton was a Conservative MP for Cheshire until losing his seat at the 1997 general election.