Ukip split as local branch backs independent mayor’s campaign

The party has not fielded a candidate for the position, but yesterday its spokesman in the town, Mick Andrews, confirmed that members would be supporting current mayor Peter Davies.

When asked about Ukip’s support for Mr Davies yesterday, however, the party’s chairman in Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Mike Hookem said: “Ukip is not supporting Peter Davies in this mayoral contest.

“We have nothing to do with him and we do not want anything to do with him.”

Mr Andrews admitted the situation was “odd” but claimed that Ukip members in Doncaster had decided that any candidate they fielded would have no chance of beating Mr Davies.

He added: “We have had to agree to disagree with party HQ on this one, but once the mayoral election is over we will be back campaigning for Ukip, of course we will.

“We feel every vote that isn’t for Peter Davies will assist Labour and we have no intention of doing that. We are not a rogue branch. We have consulted all our members and they are prepared to join Mr Davies’s campaign.”

Yesterday, Mr Davies said he was grateful for the support but said he had no intention of joining Ukip or becoming a Ukip mayor.

He added: “My slogan is common sense not politics, and I have no intention of joining any party.”

The mayor stood down from the English Democrat party earlier this year after voicing concerns over its links with the BNP. He is now an independent.