UKIP selection coverage for seat of South Basildon and East Thurrock.
YT understands that Kerry Smith has been selected as the UKIP candidates for South Basildon and East Thurrock.
Kerry Smith is both a councillor at Essex County Council and Basildon District Council.
Kerry has been seen as the engine room for UKIP over the last ten years and many local activists were very angry when he was de-selected.
In a bizarre set of circumstances, Neil Hamilton stood down before his selection speech.
He then endorsed branch secretary, Kerry Smith.
It may be due to a letter from UKIP to Mr Hamilton requesting expenses details was leaked to the press just a few hours before the meeting.
It has been a bizarre week, with another candidate, Natasha Bolter quitting the party after claiming that she was sexually harassed by UKIP chair Roger Bird.
One of the other candidates is former Labour activist, Ann-Marie Waters.
More to follow.
