THE suspended members of the UKIP Brecon and Radnor branch have responded to its suspension by the party.

A statement issued on behalf of the 'ex members' of the committee claimed the party had failed to act on concerns it had raised with it before its Wales Committee selected Darran Thomas as the party's general election candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire.

It also said an 'autocratic and undemocratic process' had been imposed on its local party members and said imposing the candidate had been the final straw for the members.

Earlier UKIP Wales had announced the suspension of the Brecon and Radnor branch while it investigated 'allegations' made since Mr Thomas' selection as the party's general election candidate.

It also said it decided to organise the selection process itself as 'allegations made by some local members brought into question whether a fair process could be guaranteed at branch level'.

That was rejected by the former local committee members. Their spokesman Paul Burgess said claims Mr Thomas could not receive a 'fair hearing' were 'wholly unjustified'.

The former members say they plan to hold a public meeting at which it is expected they will outline their side of the story.

A ROW over the selection of the UKIP Brecon and Radnor general election candidate has seen the local branch suspended from the party.

UKIP Wales said it has suspended the Brecon and Radnor branch to investigate 'allegations' made since the anti European Union party's Wales Committee selected Darran Thomas as the party's candidate on Saturday, February 7.

The local branch had originally selected Clive Easton, who stood for the party at the 2010 general election, as its candidate last year but the selection process was due to be re run.

UKIP Wales said on its website it decided to organise the selection process itself as 'allegations made by some local members brought into question whether a fair process could be guaranteed at branch level'.

Mr Thomas was selected last Saturday in preference to Mr Easton.

The local branch is expected to issue a statement later today.