Wales to be strongest region for UKIP, says Nathan Gill

Wales could become the UK Independence Party's strongest UK region, the party's Welsh leader has said.

Nathan Gill also told his party conference in Doncaster that UKIP had matured as a party and would look at May's assembly election with "a fresh pair of eyes".

"We are not going in with a hammer to knock it down but with a chisel to sort out the rough edges," he said.

Opinion polls suggested UKIP could win several seats in the Senedd.

Mr Gill said he was "extremely hopeful" of winning seven or eight assembly seats next May, after UKIP came third in terms of votes in Wales at the general election.

'No silly predictions'

"I have long predicted Wales will be one of the strongest regions for UKIP in the United Kingdom," he said.

"Next May will see that come to fruition."

"We will not make silly predictions but if we get this right... we could become the official opposition in the Welsh assembly next year", he added.

Responding to concerns about high profile figures from England standing, Mr Gill said the aim was to get the right team.

"I fully understand concerns of party members and constituency parties," he said.

"I understand whatever team fights the campaign it has to be a team people can unite behind."

Some UKIP Wales members have claimed candidates from outside Wales may be rejected by the voters.