THE man who stood for the UK Independence Party in West Devon and Torridge at the 1997 general election is to fight the seat again.
Matthew Jackson, 42, was selected by an overwhelming majority of UKIP members at a meeting in Winkleigh.
His selection follows UKIP?s strong showing in the Euro elections in June in which they polled more votes than any other party in West Devon and Torridge.
Mr Jackson said his aim now was to convince voters that UKIP was not a single-issue party: ?The onus is on us to show that we are more than that.
?Leaving the EU is stage one in the plan, but there are other aspects.
?The withdrawal dividend is estimated in excess of £20-billion a year, so we do not have to look around for savings like the Conservatives do and we will not have to put up taxes, whether by stealth or otherwise.?
Mr Jackson said he would like to see £3-billion ploughed into health, and a similar amount into education.
He said UKIP?s success at the Euro elections had changed the political landscape forever. The party was no longer a ?voice in the wilderness?.
?The challenge now facing us is to build on that success by achieving representation for the party at Westminster - we aim to win West Devon and Torridge.?
Mr Jackson rejected any suggestion that UKIP would attract Tory votes, thereby benefiting the pro-EU Liberal Democrats. He said Liberal Democrat supporters he had spoken to had voted for John Burnett for personal reasons, but were not happy with his party?s pro-EU stance.
?And the Tories are parading themselves as an anti-EU party, which they are not ? Michael Howard has made it clear he will not countenance withdrawal from the EU. The Tories are putting out a confused message.?
Mr Jackson plans to hold a series of public meetings throughout the constituency in the autumn.
Born and raised in Devon, Mr Jackson gained a first in law from Oxford University then worked as a solicitor in the City of London for 12 years and in Hong Kong for three years. He returned to Devon to live four years ago and now works for a leading law firm in Exeter.
Mr Jackson lives in Winkleigh with his Australian wife, Andrea. The couple have a son, Adam, aged two.
l West Devon and Torridge is held by Liberal Democrat John Burnett with a majority of almost 1,200 votes. He is not seeking re-election. The party?s prospective candidate is former television reporter David Walter. The prospective Conservative candidate is barrister Geoffrey Cox, who fought the seat in the 2001 general election.