Black Country Councillor to launch second UKIP leadership bid

Dudley councillor Bill Etheridge says he will bid to become UKIP leader

Black Country councillor and West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge has revealed he will launch a second bid to become the leader of UKIP.

The party are looking for a new leader following the shock departure of Diane James after just 18 days in charge.

The Dudley councillor today denounced candidate Steven Woolfe telling the Daily Politics his temperament makes him an unsuitable candidate for the role. It comes after Woolfe was hospitalised following an altercation with fellow party member Mike Hookem on Thursday.

Mr Woolfe was the first person to declare an interest in the leadership role but Mr Etheridge said that he had withdrawn his support and would instead be standing for the position.

He said: "Up until this happened I was seriously considering supporting a unity candidate to make sure that we didn't have people who'd been negative towards the party and towards Nigel (Farage) taking over. Now I don't see that I can support Steven and yes I will be standing."