FENLAND: UKIP is no more in the Fens but new UKF Party rises from the ashes

FENLAND branch of UKIP has been dissolved but its chairman Len Baynes is hopeful to win support for a breakaway UKF branch. The newly formed United Kingdom First Party says it has been set up to fight for a better Britain and Mr Baynes says it s a home

FENLAND branch of UKIP has been dissolved but its chairman Len Baynes is hopeful to win support for a breakaway UKF branch.

The newly formed United Kingdom First Party says it has been set up to "fight for a better Britain" and Mr Baynes says it's a home for those disillusioned with UKIP.

He says from a membership of over 100, the Fenland UKIP branch had lost two thirds of its membership because of growing unrest with the party leadership.

He claimed UKIP MEPs had failed to live up to their expectations and a great deal of disillusionment had set in.

"Many UKIP MEPs saw it as a chance to get on the gravy boat- it would have been a train but that wasn't big enough" said Mr Baynes.

He blamed UKIP Leader Nigel Farrage for dominating the headlines and not opening up the party to wider debate and more involvement from members.

Mr Baynes said that after eight years with UKIP, during which time he ran Cambridge and Fenland branches and also fought two General Election campaigns, he had decided it was time to quit.

"The new UKF Party has the same ideals as UKIP except we do not believe in the necessity of European elections," he said. "If we get MEPs elected they will attend only the minimum number of times at Brussels for legal reasons and the rest of time they will work in this country."

UKF is holding its first Fenland meeting on Wednesday at the Three Tuns, Doddington, and more information is available from Mr Baynes on 01354 69311 or by email to lenbay@riscali.co.uk