THE MAN sacked from Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet for joining Ukip will be standing as an Independent when he fights to retain his Aberporth seat on 4 May.

Gethin James was fired by council leader Ellen ap Gwynn in March 2014 for joining the nationalist party.

But Mr James confirmed this week he will be fighting this election as an Independent candidate, even though he remains a member of Ukip.

“When I joined Ukip three years ago I never presented myself as a Ukip councillor,” he told the Cambrian News.

“I happen to believe that local government would be better off without party politics. It should be about serving the people you live alongside within the community.

“I have never taken the national policies of Ukip into the council chamber with me – I’ve never used it as a platform.

“I liked what I heard from Nigel Farage. A lot of it resonated with me. I disliked the regulation coming out of Europe and gradually became more Euro-sceptic.

“My main reason for joining the party was that I believed Britain had to pull out of Europe and now Article 50 has been triggered that will be achieved.

“I have resigned as chairman of the local branch, although I still remain a member. But I have found myself questioning what Ukip now stands for – it has to find a new path.

“Around 200,000 people in Wales voted for Ukip in the European, General and Assembly elections and probably would again now.

“But the party needs to get its act together and support those people.”