UKIP denies election candidate has been suspended

It had been announced that the party was looking for a new candidate for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr

UKIP has denied a general election candidate in Wales has been suspended following internal party wrangling.

The party said Norma Woodward was wrongly removed as its Carmarthen East and Dinefwr candidate by a committee that overstepped its authority.

A spokesman said UKIP's Welsh committee had "misunderstood its constitutional position".

He added: "She is still the candidate. Period." UKIP Wales has been asked to comment.

It was announced earlier this week that Ms Woodward had been suspended from all party activities and that it was looking for another candidate in the constituency.

In a statement to local newspapers, UKIP Wales cited allegations about the management of a party branch bank account.

'No confusion'

A list of general election candidates on the party's website says no-one has been selected for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr.

But a UKIP spokesman at its London press office said: "There is no confusion. It's going to be Norma Woodward.

"The only confusion was that the Welsh committee misunderstood its constitutional position. That has been changed."

Only the party's UK-wide national executive has the authority to remove candidates, he said.