Who is Paul Nuttall and what did the former Ukip leader say about the General Election result?
PAUL Nuttall took over as Ukip leader from Nigel Farage during a turbulent few months for the party - and now after a poor General Election result he's on to pastures new.
But the politician says he is determined that the story is not over for the influential party as continues its battle against Brussels.
How long was Paul Nuttall the leader of Ukip?
Ukip leader Paul Nuttall fell on his sword after just six months in the job, after slumping to a distant third place in Skegness & Boston on a woeful night for the Eurosceptic party.
He surprised many when he announced he wouldn't stand in the race to succeed Mr Farage earlier this year, but later changed his mind after the resignation of Diane James - who lasted just 18 days in the job.
Mr Nuttall stood against ex-deputy chairman Suzanne Evans and former soldier John Rees-Evans but was favourite to win the election throughout.
He won the contest in November 2016 with 62.6 per cent of the vote.
Having done so, he pledged to "unite the party", demanding an end to "infighting and squabbling" and called for Mr Farage to be given a seat in the Lords.
Plans were unveiled to target disillusioned voters in Labour heartlands in a bid to improve Ukip's presence at Westminster.
What did he say about the General Election 2017 result?
Nuttall said this Eurosceptic party had been hoping to make gains after running a campaign pledging to “ensure there is no backsliding on Brexit”.
But after their share of the vote fell to just two per cent he opted to leave his position with immediate effect, telling reporters: “A new era must begin with a new leader.”
But he insisted Ukip was “more relevant than ever” and would play the role in the coming months of the “guard dogs of Brexit”.
Who is Paul Nuttall? What's his background?
The former deputy leader and current Member of the European Parliament was born in Bootle, Merseyside, and attended a Roman Catholic state school and Hugh Baird College in the town.
He studied history at Edge Hill College - graduating as BA - before obtaining an MA degree from Liverpool Hope University, where he specialised in British Edwardian politics.
Mr Nuttall later moved to Barcelona where he lived and worked before returning to Merseyside to become a history lecturer at his former college and university.
He joined Ukip in 2004, forming its South Sefton Branch the following year, which has gone on to become one of the party's best performing groups in the North West.
In 2009 he was elected as an MEP and appointed deputy leader in 2010, before becoming head of policy in May 2011 - making him the youngest person to serve as MEP, chairman or deputy for the party.
This year after becoming leader he was forced to move house after the address he was staying at was revealed on social media, with the politician becoming the target of hate mail and attempts to take photos through windows.
What had Ukip pledged ahead of the 2017 General Election?
Paul Nuttall's party have made it clear what they will do including:
- A ban on full face coverings
- An explicit ban on the practice of Sharia Law
- Mandatory reporting of Female Genital Mutilation
- A moratorium on new Islamic faith schools
- A £10 billion a year cut in the foreign aid budget
- A 'one in one out' immigration system
- Closure of schools where Islamic ideology being taught and no new Islamic faith schools until integration has made progress
The right-wing party also wants to abolish postal voting over fears of vote rigging.
Paul Nuttall has welcomed the snap election, saying: “Every vote for Ukip in this upcoming general election will be a reminder to the PM that the British people want a clean Brexit with restored borders."
How much did Mr Nuttall lose to Labour by in the Stoke by-election?
Mr Nuttall's defeat was much closer than the result of the 2015 General election, where former Stoke MP Tristram Hunt had a majority of more than 5,000 votes.
The new Labour MP, Gareth Snell, obtained 7,853 votes against Mr Nuttall's 5,233 votes.
So the Ukip leader lost out by 2620 votes.
His defeat came despite predictions Ukip leader Mr Nuttall would snatch the midlands constituency.
This is because Stoke overwhelmingly voted for Brexit while the Labour candidate had campaigned against it.
What is the Hillsborough disaster website controversy
Nuttall admitted claims he made about losing a close friend in the Hillsborough disaster were untrue.
The MEP backtracked during a radio interview – despite the statement appearing on his website, since taken down for maintenance, in 2011.
At the time he wrote: “Revealing the facts on Hillsborough is hardly a matter of national security, it is a matter of natural justice.
“Without them being made public we will never get to the bottom of that appalling tragedy when 96 Liverpool fans, including close personal friends of mine, lost their lives.”
But in an interview with Radio City News he denied saying it in the first place.
He said: “I haven’t lost a close, personal friend. I’ve lost someone who I know.
“I’m sorry about that, but that is something…I haven’t put that out. That is wrong."
His press officer Lynda Roughley took the blame, saying she felt "absolutely terrible" about the mistake.
The Ukip leader has since spoken out, saying he was the victim of an "evil smear campaign" after the fiasco.
