Bill Etheridge

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Etheridge in 2016 Bill Etheridge MEP (25052543042) (cropped).jpg
Etheridge in 2016

In July 2016, Etheridge launched his bid to become leader of UKIP following the resignation of Nigel Farage. Launching his campaign at the Seven Stars pub in Sedgley, Etheridge said: "I want us to represent the view of the people against the establishment". Etheridge received 13.7% of the vote, with the third-most votes cast. He promised to work and support with the new leader, Diane James, [16] who was only briefly in the post. His policy proposals included cheaper beer, better representation for fathers in the family court system and a referendum on bringing back the death penalty. [16] Also amongst his policy proposals were prison reform and a move to save the British public house by reintroducing smoking via the use of efficient extraction systems as used within the European Parliament itself. While in favour of Muslim faith schools and same-sex marriage, he advocates banning the burka. [17]

In October 2016, Etheridge launched his bid to become leader of UKIP following Diane James' resignation, after declaring he would refuse to back Steven Woolfe and stand himself during an interview on the BBC's Sunday Politics . He withdrew on 25 October, and endorsed the eventual winner, Paul Nuttall.

Etheridge subsequently launched his third leadership bid for the 2017 UK Independence Party leadership election, having previously stood in both of UKIP's 2016 leadership elections. [18] A key divide between candidates was between what The Guardian described as "Farage-ist economic libertarians" like Etheridge and the "more hard-right, Islam-focused" Anne Marie Waters and Peter Whittle. [19] Etheridge stated that "whichever side wins, the other side won't have a future in the party". [19] On 26 July 2017, two days before close of nominations, Etheridge withdrew his candidacy. [20]

He announced his intention to run again for the party leadership in the 2018 leadership election, but withdrew and backed Gerard Batten. [21]

Etheridge left UKIP in October 2018, saying the party is seen by voters as a "vehicle of hate towards Muslims and the Gay community". [22] He remains part of the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group in the European Parliament.

Libertarian and Brexit Party

At the Liberty Rising Conference on 6 October 2018, Etheridge announced he had joined the Libertarian Party UK. He became its deputy chairman. [23] However, he ceased to have that role [24] when, in February 2019, he left to join the Brexit Party. [25]

Return to UKIP

In September 2020, Etheridge rejoined UKIP and became the party's economics spokesman. [26] He stood in the 2024 leadership election to succeed Neil Hamilton, where he finished second to Lois Perry. [27]

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  14. Alex Stevenson (5 November 2014). "Climate deniers: Ukip in bed with corporate America". Politics.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  15. "- Our team". www.theindigogroup.org. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  16. 1 2 Walker, Jonathan (20 July 2016). "UKIP leadership: Bill Etheridge calls for death penalty vote". Birmingham Mail . Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  17. Wilkinson, Michael (6 August 2016). "Bill Etheridge: The pro-gay marriage, pro-Muslim schools, Shiraz drinking Ukip leadership candidate – who would bring back death penalty and ban burkas". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
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  19. 1 2 Walker, Peter (2 July 2017). "Large influx of new Ukip members prompts fears of far-right takeover". The Guardian.
  20. Goodliffe, Darrell (26 July 2017). "Bill Etheridge stands down". Kipper Central. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
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    - "Bill Etheridge drops out of UKIP leadership race". ITV News.
  21. Madeley, Pete. "Bill Etheridge: It's my time to lead Ukip and make the Black Country a post-Brexit industrial powerhouse". Express and Star. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
    - Madeley, Pete. "Bill Etheridge suspends fourth UKIP leadership campaign to back anti-Islam candidate". Express and Star.
  22. "MEP Bill Etheridge quits UKIP over 'extreme nationalist' views". ITV News - Central. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
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  24. "No". 14 February 2019.
  25. "MEP Tim Aker joins new Brexit Party". Your Thurrock. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
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Bill Etheridge
Bill Etheridge (15222717229) (1).jpg
Etheridge in 2014
UKIP spokesperson for defence
In office
29 November 2016 15 January 2018