SEDGLEY councillor Bill Etheridge is backing John Rees-Evans to be UKIP's new leader.

The West Midlands MEP suspended his own leadership campaign last month due to concerns about the number of candidates.

Cllr Etheridge feared that a "more extreme leader" could take the party's top title with a comparatively small section of the vote.

There are now 10 candidates standing for the role but during a press conference, held at Wolverhampton's Molineux Stadium on Tuesday (August 22), cllr Etheridge revealed that for him, there was only one contender.

He said he believed Mr Rees-Evans had "displayed character, courage and conviction," adding: "Don't get me wrong, he has had a few little difficulties along the way but we need someone who will take the knock backs and bounce back - someone who has the potential to grow with the party."

Mr Rees-Evans, a former soldier, announced that if he won next month's contest, cllr Etheridge would become the party's deputy leader.

He said: "Bill demonstrated an enormous selflessness when stepped down. He demonstrated to me his desire to put our party and its survival first. In my mind, putting this party first means putting this country and its survival first.

"It is for that reason, coupled with his knowledge, libertarian principles, thirst for new ideas and exciting policies that challenge status quo, that I can think of no better person to emerge from this final battle as one of my running mates and, God willing, deputy with special responsibility for policy."

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Meanwhile, West Midlands MEP James Carver (pictured above) has announced he is backing international security expert Henry Bolton.

Mr Carver said he believed the purple party would be in “safe hands” with the former policeman and army intelligence officer at the helm.

He said: “Henry, who was awarded the OBE for his services to international security in 2013, has, by far, the best credentials, vision and understanding to restructure the party, represent the views of members and ensure UKIP is viable with moderate ideals and broader domestic policies which will capture support and engage the electorate post Brexit.

“He has shown, by virtue of his experience, as having the skills necessary to pull the party together after support fell away in the June snap General Election.”

A leading expert on international police reform and border controls, Mr Bolton was a police officer for the Thames Valley force for eight years and received an award for outstanding bravery.