Michael Holmes | |
|---|---|
| Leader of the UK Independence Party | |
| In office September 1997 – 22 January 2000 | |
| Deputy |
Craig Mackinlay Graham Booth |
| Preceded by | Craig Mackinlay (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Jeffrey Titford |
|
Member of the European Parliament for South West England | |
| In office 15 July 1999 – 15 December 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Graham Booth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | United Kingdom |
| Political party | UK Independence Party (until 2000) |
Michael Holmes is a former leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), who served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South West England from 1999 to 2002. [1] He was educated at Sevenoaks School.[ citation needed]
At the 1997 general election, Holmes unsuccessfully contested the New Forest West constituency. Later that year he was elected leader of UKIP. In 1999 he and two other UKIP candidates were elected to the European Parliament. The following year, he stepped down from the leadership as a result of calling for extended powers for the European Parliament in his maiden speech there in defiance of party policy. [2] The party conference condemned him. [3] He left the party, but continued to sit as an independent MEP until 2002. He then resigned as an MEP and was replaced by Graham Booth, who had been the next candidate on the UKIP party list for South West England.
References
- ^ "Former UKIP leader quits party". BBC News. 21 March 2000. Archived from the original on 16 November 2006.
- ^ Maiden speech in the European Parliament 21 July 1999.
- ^ "UKIP votes leaders out". BBC News. 22 January 2000. Archived from the original on 16 November 2006.
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