Nuttall appointed Deputy Leader

Nigel Farage's new team has been confirmed by the NEC today and by far the most pleasing and important appointment is Paul Nuttall as Deputy Leader.

The only person who could have really given Farage a run for his money in the leadership election (had he decided to stand) was Paul Nuttall.  He's an excellent speaker, politically astute, down to earth and approachable.

It's not clear whether Lord Monckton is remaining vice-deputy leader or not.  Having two leaders is unusual and not really necessary.  The deputy leader has a clear role - to deputise for the leader - and I don't see why we would ever need two deputies.  Nigel's a hard act to follow but it doesn't take two people!

Steve Crowther is the new Chairman, the Secretary is Michael Greaves and Lord Pearson is head of fundraising with Stephen Woolfe assisting.

Congratulations to all of Nigel's new team.

Lord Monckton appointed Deputy Leader

Lord Pearson has appointed Viscount Christopher Monckton as Joint Deputy Leader of UKIP, alongside David Campbell Bannerman.

Lord Monckton is an outspoken and respected climate change realist and a controversial public figure - exactly what is needed to attract publicity and show the voting public that UKIP is different to the tired old parties.

However, this appointment does raise some concerns for me personally.  Of the three top people in the party, two are Scots and two are Lords.

Whether we like it or not, UKIP is an English party.  In the general election this year, UKIP retained only one deposit in both Scotland and Wales.  A party led by Scots opposing devolution for England does not sit well with English voters and having two Lords in charge isn't going to do a lot for our ambition to attract voters from all parties rather than the Tories (we do attract members from other parties but it's still mainly the Tories).  And Lord Monckton isn't without his Scottish ties either - he's pictured on the UKIP website wearing his family tartan and he founded the Tory breakaway group, the Scottish Peoples Alliance (now the New Party).

I remain as committed to UKIP as I always have been but the Brit/Scot leadership is really not going to improve our chances of electoral success.

Lord Monckton launches environment policy

Lord Monckton has launched UKIP's environment policy which focusses on the climate change scam.

UKIP will withdraw funding for the discredited corrupt IPPC, pull out of the EU Carbon Trading Scam and establish a Royal Commission to find the real science about climate change rather than the hysterical propaganda by career climate change "scientists".

Lord Monckton also said that Al Gore's propaganda piece, An Inconvenient Truth, in particular would be banned.  People uncomfortable with banning things should note that propaganda is already banned in English schools.