Newark by-election: Candidates fight to become next MP
Candidates will contest the Newark by-election on June 5. The seat is vacant after Patrick Mercer quit as MP for Newark for allegedly taking cash to ask questions in Parliament.
UKIP will throw kitchen sink at Newark but Farage won't be in it
UKIP Leader Nigel Farage has ruled himself out of the running for the Newark by-election, but says his party will "throw the kitchen sink at it".
Mr Farage said in a short statement that his contesting the seat left vacant by disgraced former Tory MP Patrick Mercer would be a "huge distraction" from his party's European election campaign.
He admitted that running in Newark would make him "look like an opportunist" as he has no links with the East Midlands.
Mr Farage said: "I have no doubt that UKIP will throw the kitchen sink at this Newark by-election, but it won’t be me doing it and we won’t get that huge distraction."
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