A former Conservative peer was today elected the new leader of the UK Independence Party.
Lord Pearson of Rannoch will take over from Nigel Farage, who has been in charge for three years, after polling 48% in a ballot of party members.
He was granted a peerage by Margaret Thatcher in 1990 but had the Tory whip withdrawn in 2004 after suggesting voters should support UKIP in that year's elections.
He is a strong supporter of freedom of speech and earlier this year invited the right-wing Dutch politician Geert Wilders to Britain to screen a controversial film about Islam.
In his acceptance speech today Lord Pearson said his ambition was to win enough support to force a hung Parliament in next year's general election.
UKIP campaigns for Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.
