James Barker is UKIP’s Preston candidate

The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) has announced a Penwortham businessman will be its Preston election candidate.

James Barker, 49, will stand for the party in the Preston seat in the general election in May.

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He moved to the city 10 years ago and says Bill Clinton is his political hero.

Mr Barker said: ““A large gulf has opened up between the ruling elite and the public. Many Preston voters have noticed.

“Too many decisions seem to come from nowhere, without any prior discussion with the public at election time: almost invariably those decisions have been imposed on Britain by the European Union.

“Too many decisions are being made by an undemocratic elite in the EU, arrogantly bypassing the views of ordinary people. Only UKIP will end that: none of the other parties even wish to talk about it.

“Preston has been a safe Labour seat for generations and the other parties seem to have given up even trying to win. UKIP has become a major force in the town in recent years. We will mount a major campaign and I am confident we will once again poll strongly.”

Mark Hendrick, the current Labour MP, is re-standing for election.

The Conservative’s field Richard Holden and the Liberal Democrats Jo Barton.