Nigel Farage considering Folkestone for 2015 election
Ukip leader Nigel Farage is planning to stand as an MP at the next general election, hoping to change the fortunes of his party which currently holds no seats in Parliament.
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme this morning Nigel Farage revealed he was considering running to become MP for Folkestone, in his home county of Kent.
The announcement follows recent speculation that Mr Farage would run in South Thanet, directly targeting Laura Sandys, a pro-Europe Conservative. Mr Farage previously ran in the South Thanet seat in 2005, coming fourth.
Speaking today Mr Farage declared: “I am going to stand, but let’s get the European elections out of the way first.”
“To be honest with you I was thinking about Folkestone. But it doesn’t really matter: I’m not going to say where I’m standing, I’m not even going to think about where I’m standing.
The announcement follows a blow to the party yesterday with Sky’s John Ryley producing an op-ed of the Times claiming there is no place for the Ukip leader on TV debates with other party leaders.
The Conservative leadership has banned MPs from teaming up with Ukip for local deals ahead of the election but Mr Farage has indicated his party may be open to joint tickets with eurosceptics from other parties.
Mr Farage spoke at fringe meetings at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester this week and said Ukip could support a group of two dozen Tory MPs whose views are broadly in line with his party.