Neil Hamilton (politician)

Neil Hamilton

Mostyn Neil Hamilton (born 9 March 1949) is a British politician, non-practising barrister and former teacher who is acting leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) since 2020. He is a Member of the Senedd (MS) for Mid and West Wales since 2016. He was previously a Conservative MP in the House of Commons for the Tatton constituency from 1983 to 1997.

After being implicated (alongside Tim Smith) in the cash-for-questions affair, he was defeated in the 1997 general election, and subsequently left politics. He left the Conservative Party in 2002, and joined UKIP. He was elected to the National Executive Committee of UKIP in 2011. Following his election to the National Assembly for Wales, he was UKIP Assembly Group Leader from 2016 to 2018 and again from 2019. He has been Leader of UKIP Wales since 26 September 2016.

Quotes

• It is well known that I have not always seen eye to eye with Nigel, but I salute his very significant achievements. UKIP has a massive continuing role to play in British politics and, under a new leader, we will reach out to an even wider constituency. Nigel Farage deserves the thanks of every Brexiteer. There would have been no referendum without him. He is a controversial figure but, like him or loathe him, he is a dynamic force and one of the great figures in British politics today. He clearly has much still to offer in the continuing campaign for an independent Britain. He should be given a peerage.
  • Statement on the resignation of Nigel Farage (July 4, 2016).