UKIP has confirmed it has a new leader - its fifth since Nigel Farage stepped down in late 2016.

Gerard Batten, who ran unopposed in the election to replace Henry Bolton, announced he had taken over the role officially on Saturday.

Mr Bolton, 55, was ousted from the leadership following a scandal over his affair with 25-year-old model Jo Marney.

Mr Batten, who is also UKIP's MEP for London, said he would now concentrate on restoring the "party's fortunes" after it saw its vote share in the polls slip from a high of more than 25% in the European elections in 2014 to less than 2% in 2017.

Image: There have been five leaders since Nigel Farage stepped down in 2016

He also pledged to resign after 12 months to allow a full leadership election to take place.

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He said in a statement: "I received the backing of all three UKIP Lords, our major donors, our MEPs, our London and Welsh Assembly Members, and party activists and members from all over the UK.

"I would like to thank everyone for their support, and am grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me.

"For the next twelve months, I will concentrate on doing all I can to restore the party's fortunes. A very good start has been made and the party is now on a sound financial footing.

Image: Paul Nuttall lasted seven months before he quit after the General Election

"However, we need to get UKIP back into the political fight. We have made a very good start with the 554 UKIP candidates standing in the English local elections.

"Don't pay any attention to our enemies who are crowing that our candidates numbers are 75% down on what they were last time.

"The truth is that instead of 554 candidates, the number would have been zero if you had not all backed me from the 17 April onwards and the party had disintegrated. Instead, let's celebrate the 554 and help them all we can.

"My role as Interim Leader was to ensure the immediate survival of the party. That has been done. However, we must move on and progress."

Image: Henry Bolton was ousted after he had an affair

UKIP lost control of its only major council in February when the party's local leader resigned.

Before he became the official leader, Mr Batten was forced to defend his description of Islam as a "death cult".

Diane James was the first to replace Mr Farage after a vote but, before taking up the role, she announced she would not be doing so as she claimed she did not have the authority.

Paul Nuttall followed Ms James but lasted seven months before he resigned when he failed to win a seat in the General Election.

Steve Crowther was acting leader until Mr Bolton was elected.</s>UKIP's interim boss Gerard Batten has been elected the party's new leader - after no one else applied for the role.

Batten, 64, took the helm after former leader Henry Bolton, 55, was sacked over racist comments made by his girlfriend Jo Marney, 25.

He is a fervent anti-Islam activist who claims the religion is a 'death cult...fuelled by dark ages ideologies'.

UKIP's Saturday leadership election was its fourth in the last 19 months with the party in disarray since Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

Batten, an MEP since 2004, was elected interim leader in February, in the sixth change of party boss since Brexit. He was uncontested in today's electon.

Speaking today, he said: 'I am pleased to accept the leadership of UKIP. Since my appointment as the interim leader, I have made a number of decisions that have put the party on a firm footing financially and organisationally.

'As leader, I will do all I can to work for the progress of the party. UKIP is the only real opposition to our political establishment, and we are needed now as much as ever.'

The London MEP refused to retract his comments after he said Islam was fuelled by 'dark ages ideologies' and claimed many Muslim migrants to the UK believed in a literal interpretation of the Koran.

He also claimed new arrivals to Britain should be obliged to sign an agreement rejecting this view.

Nigel Farage led the party to its zenith and was a driving force in bringing about the party's founding aim of achieving Brexit.

But since the June 2016 referendum, UKIP has seen its support tumble and the party descend into chaos as it struggles to find a new role. It has also been dogged by financial problems.

Farage stepped down after Britain voted for Brexit, his political mission complete.

Diane James took over then quit again within a month, with Farage returning as acting leader.

Paul Nuttall won the next leadership contest but UKIP flopped at the 2017 general election.

He quit and Steve Crowther took acting charge. Henry Bolton won the next leadership contest in September, but was ousted in February following a scandal over his private life.

Farage, who became friends with US President Donald Trump, remains an MEP but now hosts a national radio talk show five times a week.

The next test for the anti-EU, anti-mass immigration party is the local elections on May 3.</s>Gerard Batten, who has been acting UKIP leader since February, said he will resign after spending a year restoring the party's fortunes following a disastrous period riddled by bitter feuds and money issues. The London MEP warned that the Eurosceptic party needs to get "back into the political fight" as the local elections in England approach. He added: “As I said at the start of the contest, if the election were to be uncontested, I would hold office for 12 months. "Therefore, I intend to resign on 13th April 2019 so that a full leadership contest may take place. By then I will have decided if I wish to contest that election or not.

"For the next 12 months, I will concentrate on doing all I can to restore the party's fortunes. A very good start has been made and the party is now on a sound financial footing.” Mr Batten was officially elected UKIP’s 12th leader since the party was founded in 1993. He follows predecessor Henry Bolton who was booted out of the job in February over his relationship with controversial model Jo Marney, who sent offensive messages about Meghan Markle. After taking the helm, Mr Batten pleaded for more cash from party members when it was slapped with a £175,000 legal bill from a libel case lost by its MEP Jane Collins. Mr Batten said: “My role as interim leader was to ensure the immediate survival of the party. That has been done. However, we must move on and progress.

"My aim for the next 12 months as Ukip Leader is to restore the party; financially, organisationally and politically.” He added: "I will not make any extravagant promises. We are essentially a volunteer organisation and we have a difficult task ahead; one which will require a lot of commitment and work. But Ukip is needed now as much as ever." UKIP was founded in 1993 when Alan Sked was leader. After serving four years, Craig Mackinlay was elected, followed by Michael Holmes who saw the party int the new millennium. Jeffrey Titford was voted in as the next leader, with Roger Knapman after. Nigel Farage was then elected leader, with Lord Pearson of Rannoch taking the role after, only for Mr Farage to return for the EU referendum. She was then replaced by Paul Nuttall, with Steve Crowther following before Henry Bolton and now, Gerard Batten.</s>Ukip's new leader announced he intends to resign in 12 months as he was installed in the post after an uncontested election.

Gerard Batten said he will spend the next year trying to restore the party's fortunes after a tumultuous period that has seen it implode with bitter infighting and stretched by financial struggles.

The London MEP warned that the Eurosceptic party needs to get "back into the political fight" as the local elections in England approach.

Mr Batten said: "As I said at the start of the contest, if the election were to be uncontested, I would hold office for 12 months.

"Therefore, I intend to resign on 13th April 2019 so that a full leadership contest may take place. By then I will have decided if I wish to contest that election or not.

"For the next 12 months, I will concentrate on doing all I can to restore the party's fortunes. A very good start has been made and the party is now on a sound financial footing."

Mr Batten became interim leader after predecessor Henry Bolton was ousted in February.</s>Ukip's new leader announced he intends to resign in 12 months as he was installed in the post after an uncontested election.

Gerard Batten said he will spend the next year trying to restore the party's fortunes after a tumultuous period that has seen it implode with bitter infighting and stretched by financial struggles.

The London MEP warned that the Eurosceptic party needs to get "back into the political fight" as the local elections in England approach.

Mr Batten said: "As I said at the start of the contest, if the election were to be uncontested, I would hold office for 12 months.

"Therefore, I intend to resign on 13th April 2019 so that a full leadership contest may take place. By then I will have decided if I wish to contest that election or not.

"For the next 12 months, I will concentrate on doing all I can to restore the party's fortunes. A very good start has been made and the party is now on a sound financial footing."

Mr Batten became interim leader after predecessor Henry Bolton was ousted in February.
• Henry Bolton sacked as Ukip leader after party backs no confidence vote

Mr Bolton was kicked out of the job over his relationship with controversial model Jo Marney, who sent offensive messages about Meghan Markle.

After taking the helm, Mr Batten had to appeal to Ukip members for funds after the party faced possible insolvency when it was landed with a £175,000 legal bill from a libel case lost by its MEP Jane Collins.

Mr Batten said: "My role as interim leader was to ensure the immediate survival of the party. That has been done. However, we must move on and progress.

"My aim for the next 12 months as Ukip Leader is to restore the party; financially, organisationally and politically.

"I will not make any extravagant promises. We are essentially a volunteer organisation and we have a difficult task ahead; one which will require a lot of commitment and work. But Ukip is needed now as much as ever."</s>UKIP's new leader announced he intends to resign in 12 months just minutes after he was installed in the post after an uncontested election.

Gerard Batten said he will spend the next year trying to restore the party's fortunes after a tumultuous period that has seen it implode with bitter infighting and stretched by financial struggles.

In February, party members voted to remove Henry Bolton as leader after less than five months in charge after a scandal about racist comments made by his young lover.

And London MEP Batten has warned that the Eurosceptic party needs to get "back into the political fight" as the local elections in England approach in May.

He said: "As I said at the start of the contest, if the election were to be uncontested, I would hold office for 12 months.

"Therefore, I intend to resign on 13th April 2019 so that a full leadership contest may take place. By then I will have decided if I wish to contest that election or not.

"For the next 12 months, I will concentrate on doing all I can to restore the party's fortunes. A very good start has been made and the party is now on a sound financial footing."

Batten became interim leader after Bolton was kicked out of the job over his relationship with controversial model Jo Marney, who sent offensive messages about Meghan Markle.

After taking the helm, Batten had to appeal to UKIP members for funds after the party faced possible insolvency when it was landed with a £175,000 legal bill from a libel case lost by its MEP Jane Collins.

Batten said: "My role as interim leader was to ensure the immediate survival of the party. That has been done. However, we must move on and progress.

"My aim for the next 12 months as UKIP Leader is to restore the party; financially, organisationally and politically.

"I will not make any extravagant promises. We are essentially a volunteer organisation and we have a difficult task ahead; one which will require a lot of commitment and work. But UKIP is needed now as much as ever."

UKIP reached its peak under influential former leader Nigel Farage who helped bring about the referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union in 2016 before stepping down as leader in November that year with the party struggling to maintain its relevance following the Brexit vote.</s>LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s eurosceptic United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) named a new leader on Saturday as it seeks to draw a line under recent turmoil.

UKIP was influential under former leader Nigel Farage in bringing about a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union in 2016, but has struggled to maintain its relevance since the country voted to leave the bloc.

UKIP said the appointment of Gerard Batten as leader was uncontested. Batten, a member of the European Parliament for London and the party’s former Brexit spokesman, had been serving as interim leader.

In February, party members voted to remove Henry Bolton as leader after less than five months in charge after a scandal about racist comments made by his lover. Bolton had been UKIP’s fourth leader in a year.</s>UKIP has confirmed Gerard Batten as its new leader - and he has said he will resign in 12 months' time.

The MEP, who had been interim leader since February. said that as he was elected unopposed he would step down so a full contest can take place.

Mr Batten said he will "concentrate on doing all I can to restore the party's fortunes."

He is the fourth person to lead UKIP in 19 months, as the party's popularity has crumbled since the EU referendum.

He took over from Henry Bolton in February after a racism row saw Mr Bolton ousted from the party.
• What to look out for in May's local elections
• Ex-UKIP leader 'to set up new party'

Mr Batten, who has been an MEP since 2004, said he was "pleased" to have been confirmed as leader.

"UKIP is the only real opposition to our political establishment, and we are needed now as much as ever," he said.

He added that the party needs to get "back into the political fight" with the upcoming local elections.

"I will not make any extravagant promises.

"We are essentially a volunteer organisation and we have a difficult task ahead; one which will require a lot of commitment and work," he said.

While there have been four different UKIP leaders since the referendum, the leadership has changed hands six times.

Nigel Farage, the party's most famous figure, stepped down after the Brexit vote, only to resume his post when his successor Diane James quit after less than a month at the helm.

Paul Nuttall then assumed the role, but quit when UKIP performed badly in the 2017 general election. Steve Crowther was then acting leader until Mr Bolton was elected in September.

Mr Batten took over after a row in which Mr Bolton's girlfriend Jo Marney was expelled from the party following allegations she had sent racist messages about Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's fiancée.

The party has also suffered a funding crisis and was saved from insolvency by public donations.

Mr Batten said as interim leader he had "made a number of decisions that have put the party on a firm footing financially and organisationally".</s>Ukip have appointed a new leader and he immediately announced his resignation.

Gerard Batten, who has repeatedly described Islam as a 'death cult' and was acting as interim leader after the ousting of Henry Bolton earlier this year, was installed as the party's full-time leader last night.

It came after he went unopposed in the 'election' to replace Bolton, which Ukip's constitution demands within six weeks after a leader steps down or is sacked.

The party was reportedly facing financial ruin if a full-scale leadership contest, like the one last year which attracted 11 candidates, went ahead.

The bill for such an election would stretch to around £30,000.

Luckily, nobody else applied by the closing date, which Ukip say was last night, so Mr Batten was appointed leader.

The party already been referring to him as leader in official communications, dropping the 'interim' from his title several weeks ago.

It's unclear if and how the process of nominations and closing date was advertised to members.

It's also unclear whether the party increased the deposit required to register as a candidate.

The Mirror has contacted Ukip to ask for clarity on these matters.

Last week the Guardian reported the Ukip hierarchy were trying to "engineer" an uncontested leadership bid for Mr Batten, by introducing stringent rules including long-term party membership and big cash deposits for candidates.

Mr Batten was appointed leader as of 5pm last night, and immediately announced his resignation.

He said: "As I said at the start of the contest, if the election were to be uncontested, I would hold office for 12 months.

"Therefore, I intend to resign on 13th April 2019 so that a full leadership contest may take place. By then I will have decided if I wish to contest that election or not. For the next 12 months, I will concentrate on doing all I can to restore the party's fortunes. A very good start has been made and the party is now on a sound financial footing."

He added: "I am pleased to accept the leadership of UKIP. Since my appointment as the Interim Leader, I have made a number of decisions that have put the Party on a firm footing financially and organisationally.

“As Leader, I will do all I can to work for the progress of the Party. UKIP is the only real opposition to our political establishment, and we are needed now as much as ever.”
Gerard Batten is elected unopposed as the leader of the UK Independence Party, having been interim leader of the party since previous leader Henry Bolton was overthrown in a vote of no confidence in February.