Lincolnshire UKIP group leader Chris Pain confident of becoming MP

Chris Pain said he will stand in Boston and Skegness rather than Nigel Farage

The UKIP group on Lincolnshire County Council has elected a leader, who says he is confident of becoming an MP at the next general election.

Councillor Chris Pain, who is also UKIP's East Midlands regional chairman, was elected leader of the group at a meeting on Friday evening.

His party won 16 seats on the council in the local elections, meaning the Conservatives lost overall control.

The Conservatives then formed a coalition with the Liberal Democrats.

Mr Pain said the UKIP group will hold the new coalition to account.

Potholes and immigration

He said one of his main priorities will be to deal with potholes in Lincolnshire's roads.

"The roads were a serious issue on the doorstep," said Mr Pain, who is councillor for Wainfleet and Burgh.

"Also the effect of unlimited EU migration on the community, and people are fed up of the council pretending it's not an issue when it is.

"It's devastating the local community."

There have been rumours that UKIP leader Nigel Farage will stand in Boston and Skegness at the general election, given the party's success in the area.

But Mr Pain said he, rather than Mr Farage, will stand in Boston and Skegness at the next election, against Conservative MP Mark Simmonds.

"I stood at the last election against Mark Simmonds and I will be standing at the next one, unless I'm assassinated between now and then," he said.