Mike_Hookem

Mike Hookem

Mike Hookem

Deputy Leader of the UK Independence Party

Michael Hookem (born 9 October 1953) is a British politician who served as Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Yorkshire and the Humber from 2014 to 2019.[1]

Quick Facts Deputy Leader of the UK Independence Party, Leader ...

A former member of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), Hookem served as UKIP's Deputy Leader under Gerard Batten from February 2018 until his resignation in May 2019 to run for the leadership.[2] He also served as Spokesperson for Fisheries and Veterans Affairs from 2016 to 2019,[3] and as Spokesperson for Defence in 2019 and previously from 2014 to 2016.[4]

Early life

Hookem grew up in the fishing community in the east of Kingston upon Hull, and left school at 15. His father worked on the docks.[5] Hookem enlisted in the Royal Air Force at the age of 17, and served for four years.[5]

After working in various trades he rejoined the military, serving in the Royal Engineers as a TA Commando Engineer for nine years.[5]

UKIP politics

Hookem voted for the Labour Party until he became disillusioned with what he considered "a criminal Labour government".[5] In response to his disillusionment with Labour, Hookem joined UKIP in 2008, after having for years been a Labour member.[5]

He stood as UKIP candidate in Kingston upon Hull East in the 2010 general election, and finished fourth with 2,745 votes (8%).

Hookem was elected in 2014 to the European Parliament.[1] He had served as UKIP's regional chairman for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire until that election. He was replaced as chairman by Judith Morris from July 2014.

On 6 October 2016, Hookem was involved in a fight with fellow UKIP MEP Steven Woolfe during a UKIP meeting at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.[5][6][7] Hookem said he had not punched Woolfe, but did admit to a "scuffle" with him and that he acted in self-defence.[8][9] The altercation was an outgrowth of a party meeting to discuss news reports that Woolfe was in talks about defecting to the Conservative Party.[9] Hookem said Woolfe "took exception" to his comment about Woolfe turning his leadership application paperwork late.[9] Hookem was asked if he would accept a suspension and Hookem said: "If they suspend me, yes. By our rules if they suspend me they have to suspend Steven Woolfe".[9]

Hookem stood as UKIP's candidate for Great Grimsby in the 2017 general election, finishing third with 1,647 votes (4.6%), thus losing his deposit.

Following the election of Henry Bolton as leader of UKIP, Hookem was appointed assistant deputy leader as well as UKIP spokesman on fisheries and on veterans affairs.[10] He stood down as the party's assistant deputy leader on 22 January 2018 after Bolton refused to resign as leader following a vote of no confidence in him from UKIP's National Executive Committee the previous day.[11]

From February 2018 to May 2019, Hookem served as UKIP's Deputy Leader; Hookem resigned in May 2019 to challenge Gerard Batten's leadership of the party. He sat as a non-attached (Non-Inscrit) Member of the European Parliament following the party's split from the EFDD Group led by UKIP's former leader, Nigel Farage, while Batten and Stuart Agnew joined the Europe of Nations and Freedom group.

After leaving UKIP, Hookem helped to found the Alliance for Democracy and Freedom Party (ADF), becoming the party’s Chairman.

Elections contested

UK Parliament

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European Parliament elections

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References

  1. [1]
    "Mike HOOKEM". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  2. [2]
    "May has now set out how she will betray the UK fishing industry!". UKIP. 2 March 2018.
  3. [3]
    "Paul Nuttall builds up UKIP's top team". BBC News. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  4. [4]
    Allegretti, Aubrey; Waugh, Paul (6 October 2016). "Steven Woolfe Recovering In Hospital After Altercation At Ukip MEPs Meeting". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  5. [5]
    Booth, Robert (6 October 2016). "Mike Hookem: a 'working-class lad' who turned to Ukip". The Guardian. Kings Place, London. Retrieved 9 October 2016. A Labour voter most of his life, Mike Hookem joined Ukip in 2008 and recently became its defence spokesman. His father worked filleting fish on the Humberside docks and Hookem left school at 15, working in low-paid jobs before joining the Royal Air Force at 17. He left after four years but later rejoined the armed forces as commando engineer in the Royal Engineers. He has also worked as a bus and lorry driver, a carpenter and a joiner.
  6. [6]
    Watts, Joe (6 October 2016). "Steven Woolfe collapse: Ukip leadership favourite in 'serious condition' after altercation at European Parliament". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  7. [7]
    "UKIP's Steven Woolfe in hospital 'after altercation'". BBC News. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  8. [8]
    "UKIP MEP Mike Hookem denies assaulting Steven Woolfe". BBC News. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  9. [9]
    "Mike Hookem: 'I acted in self-defence'". ITV. London. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  10. [10]
    Walker, Peter (18 October 2017). "New Ukip leader Henry Bolton reveals frontbench lineup". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  11. [11]
    Kentish, Benjamin (22 January 2018). "Mike Hookem: Ukip assistant deputy leader steps down after Henry Bolton refuses to resign". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  12. [12]
    "Hull East". BBC News. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
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