Ukip leader to target Michael Howard

Ukip leader to target Michael Howard’s seat

Ukip leader to target Michael Howard’s seat

One of the leaders of the UK Independence Party is to stand against Conservative leader Michael Howard at the forthcoming General Election, Sky News reports.

Petrina Holdsworth, Ukip’s chairman, says she will fight for the Folkestone and Hythe seat, where Mr Howard currently has a 5,907 majority.

Commenting on her decision, Ms Holdsworth said she was not just standing against the Conservative leader, but “against the other parties who are jointly responsible for the mess our nation is in.”

The Ukip representative said the Liberal Democrats and Labour were “honest about wanting to sell our nation out”, but accused Mr Howard of “misleading” the electorate with contradictory policies.

She claimed that Mr Howard’s expressed commitment to Britain’s membership of the European Union ran contrary to his party’s pledge to withdraw the UK from the common fisheries policy.

She also questioned the Conservative leader’s policies on immigration and the EU constitution.

“His party has an immigration policy which is illegal under European Union law, and his MEPs are funding `Yes’ campaigns in several nations which are holding referendums on the EU constitution,” added Ms Holdsworth.

“He cannot have it both ways. Either we stay in the EU, or we implement Conservative policy – the two are mutually exclusive. Does he not understand that or is he deliberately misleading the electorate?”