English Chess Forum

UKIP is searching for a replacement for Nigel Farage. The Press Association reports that MEP Jonathan Arnott has announced his candidacy amid furore over new rules for the contest which will block many of the party's best-known figures from standing.

From Wikipedia:

Arnott is a chess enthusiast who is a Candidate Master, former member of the England Under-21 squad and captained the Yorkshire county side from 2002–04.He regularly competes in the 4NCL international chess league and the Gibraltar International chess festival. He represented White Rose in the European Club Cup in 2010 and 2011, with the team finishing as the top British side by 20 places in 2011. His highest rating of 2191 was achieved in 2012 and his rating of 2173 in July 2015 ranks him 169th in England and 12281 in the world.

Leonard Barden wrote:... furore over new rules for the [UKIP Leadership] contest which will block many of the party's best-known figures from standing.

Including Nick Faulks, I suspect

I recall playing for White Rose one 4NCL weekend when Jonathan had to bale out of the Sunday to go on a BBC radio programme. In the event of UKIP gaining an overall majority in Parliament, he was going to find himself Home Secretary. It seemed a long shot at the time but, if an election were to be called today, who knows what might happen? Of course, that's why it won't be.

They'd get nowhere, just like last time really. Awfully unfair voting system but it's what we've got.

Arnott has pulled out of the race