UKIP chairman stands down

The chairman of UKIP in Wakefield district, Nathan Garbutt, has stood down after four years in the position.

Mr Garbutt will be replaced at a local party meeting next month but still plans to stand as the UKIP candidate for Pontefract, Castleford and Normanton in next year’s general election.

Mr Garbutt said: “I have taken the decision to stand down as chairman for one reason and that is to concentrate on my career. When I took over as chairman four years ago we only had one candidate standing in the district and we never polled above 10 per cent.

“Things are very different now and we have two hard working councillors on Wakefield Council.

“I am extremely proud to leave the local party in a stronger position than it was four years ago.”