United Kingdom Independence Party leadership election, 2009
Encyclopedia
The United Kingdom Independence Party
(UKIP) held a leadership election in 2009, with ballots closing on 26 November. The election was won by Malcolm Pearson, Baron Pearson of Rannoch
.
The Eurosceptic
party had been led by Nigel Farage
since he won the 2006 leadership election
. He announced his resignation from the post in September 2009, stating that he wanted to devote more time to his campaign for a seat in the United Kingdom House of Commons.
Gerard Batten
was a Member of the European Parliament
(MEP) and stood unsuccessfully in the London mayoral election, 2008
. His main policies were to broaden the party's policies beyond Euroscepticism, and to focus on winning representation at Westminster.
Mike Nattrass
was also an MEP. His main policies were to focus on the upcoming general election, opposition to the Conservative Party
, and to reject a merger with similar parties elsewhere in Europe.
Lord Pearson
was a member of the House of Lords
. Originally appointed as a Conservative peer, he joined UKIP in 2007. His main policies included a focus on direct democracy
and on opposition to Islamism
. He had the support of Farage, who declared that Pearson was the only "serious, credible" candidate. He also had the support of the party's deputy leader, David Campbell-Bannerman
, who had been expected to stand in the election. The Daily Telegraph declared in September that Pearson was the favourite to win the election.
Nikki Sinclaire
was another MEP. Her main policies were to professionalise the party, introducing a shadow cabinet, and to focus on communication through the media.
Alan Wood was UKIP's nominating officer and a district councillor. His main policy was to focus on an alliance with other Eurosceptic parties, although not with the British National Party
. He was also opposed to Pearson's policy of prioritising anti-Islamism.
United Kingdom Independence Party
The United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
(UKIP) held a leadership election in 2009, with ballots closing on 26 November. The election was won by Malcolm Pearson, Baron Pearson of Rannoch
Malcolm Pearson, Baron Pearson of Rannoch
Malcolm Everard MacLaren Pearson, Baron Pearson of Rannoch is a British businessman and the former leader of the UK Independence Party . He is a member of the House of Lords.-Biography:...
.
The Eurosceptic
EuroSceptic
EuroSceptic is the second album of British singer Jack Lucien. It was released in October 2009.Due to being an album influenced by Europop, it features songs with parts in different languages...
party had been led by Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage
Nigel Paul Farage MEP , a position he previously held from September 2006 to November 2009. He is a current Member of the European Parliament for South East England and co-chairs the Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Democracy group....
since he won the 2006 leadership election
United Kingdom Independence Party leadership election, 2006
The United Kingdom Independence Party held a leadership election in September 2006.The Eurosceptic party had been led since 2002 by Roger Knapman...
. He announced his resignation from the post in September 2009, stating that he wanted to devote more time to his campaign for a seat in the United Kingdom House of Commons.
Candidates
There were five candidates for the election.Gerard Batten
Gerard Batten
Gerard Joseph Batten is a Member of the European Parliament for London for the United Kingdom Independence Party . He was first elected in 2004. He sits as a member of the Independence and Democracy Group....
was a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
(MEP) and stood unsuccessfully in the London mayoral election, 2008
London mayoral election, 2008
The London mayoral election, 2008 for the office of Mayor of London was held on 1 May 2008 and was won by Conservative Party candidate Boris Johnson....
. His main policies were to broaden the party's policies beyond Euroscepticism, and to focus on winning representation at Westminster.
Mike Nattrass
Mike Nattrass
Mike Nattrass is an English politician and Member of the European Parliament, representing the West Midlands constituency for the UK Independence Party , elected for the first time in June 2004 and re-elected in June 2009....
was also an MEP. His main policies were to focus on the upcoming general election, opposition to the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, and to reject a merger with similar parties elsewhere in Europe.
Lord Pearson
Malcolm Pearson, Baron Pearson of Rannoch
Malcolm Everard MacLaren Pearson, Baron Pearson of Rannoch is a British businessman and the former leader of the UK Independence Party . He is a member of the House of Lords.-Biography:...
was a member of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. Originally appointed as a Conservative peer, he joined UKIP in 2007. His main policies included a focus on direct democracy
Direct democracy
Direct democracy is a form of government in which people vote on policy initiatives directly, as opposed to a representative democracy in which people vote for representatives who then vote on policy initiatives. Direct democracy is classically termed "pure democracy"...
and on opposition to Islamism
Islamism
Islamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
. He had the support of Farage, who declared that Pearson was the only "serious, credible" candidate. He also had the support of the party's deputy leader, David Campbell-Bannerman
David Campbell-Bannerman
David Campbell Bannerman is a Member of the European Parliament for East of England for the Conservative Party, having sat for the United Kingdom Independence Party until 24 May 2011...
, who had been expected to stand in the election. The Daily Telegraph declared in September that Pearson was the favourite to win the election.
Nikki Sinclaire
Nikki Sinclaire
Nicole Sinclaire is a European politician from the United Kingdom and is a current MEP.Educated at the University of Canterbury graduating with a Bachelor of Laws qualification. Sinclaire has worked for Lloyds as a 'problem troubleshooter' was employed as a Gateway store manager and worked in...
was another MEP. Her main policies were to professionalise the party, introducing a shadow cabinet, and to focus on communication through the media.
Alan Wood was UKIP's nominating officer and a district councillor. His main policy was to focus on an alliance with other Eurosceptic parties, although not with the British National Party
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
. He was also opposed to Pearson's policy of prioritising anti-Islamism.
Result
Pearson was elected, taking almost half of the votes cast.| UK Independence Party leadership election, 2009 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Lord Pearson Malcolm Pearson, Baron Pearson of Rannoch Malcolm Everard MacLaren Pearson, Baron Pearson of Rannoch is a British businessman and the former leader of the UK Independence Party . He is a member of the House of Lords.-Biography:... |
4,743 | 47.7 | |
| Gerard Batten Gerard Batten Gerard Joseph Batten is a Member of the European Parliament for London for the United Kingdom Independence Party . He was first elected in 2004. He sits as a member of the Independence and Democracy Group.... |
2,571 | 25.9 | |
| Nikki Sinclaire Nikki Sinclaire Nicole Sinclaire is a European politician from the United Kingdom and is a current MEP.Educated at the University of Canterbury graduating with a Bachelor of Laws qualification. Sinclaire has worked for Lloyds as a 'problem troubleshooter' was employed as a Gateway store manager and worked in... |
1,214 | 12.2 | |
| Mike Nattrass Mike Nattrass Mike Nattrass is an English politician and Member of the European Parliament, representing the West Midlands constituency for the UK Independence Party , elected for the first time in June 2004 and re-elected in June 2009.... |
1,092 | 11.0 | |
| Alan Wood | 315 | 3.2 | |
| Turnout | 9,935 | ||