The general secretary of UKIP has denied a claim that he sexually harassed a newly-recruited member who was set to be a candidate for the vacant place in South Basildon and East Thurrock
Roger Bird has been suspended from his post on full pay over what the party called "allegations of impropriety",
Natasha Bolter, 35, was due to appear at the hustings on Wednesday, in order to select a candidate to replace the de-selected Kerry Smith.
Now it appears that deputy chairman of UKIP, Neil Hamilton is set to be parachuted in as a replacement.
Mr Hamilton will go up against four other candidates.
In 1997, Mr Hamilton lost his seat in Tatton to a former BBC war reporter, Martin Bell, who stood on an anti-sleaze platform.
In 1994, Mr Hamilton had resigned as a minister after allegation that eh received cash in brown envelopes for asking questions while he was a backbencher. Although he denied the claims, a parliamentary inquiry found that he took cash for questions.
The decision to short-list Mr Hamilton may well sit badly with local UKIP activists who are already smarting from the de-selection of popular councillor Kerry Smith.
