Kilroy-Silk: No fierce in-fighting

The newly elected Euro MP had been widely expected to stand for the UK Independence Party.

He denied reports he was blocked by party in-fighting, telling the BBC he had decided not to stand because he would have had to quit as an MEP.

The by-election was prompted by Peter Mandelson's departure to Europe.

Mr Kilroy-Silk told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he had wanted to contest the by-election, but had been advised he could not be both an MP and MEP.

I have no desire to be the leader of UKIP. I am very happy doing what I'm doing Robert Kilroy-Silk UKIP MEP

He said that because he had only recently been elected as a Euro MP for the East Midlands, he thought stepping down would be a "totally inappropriate thing to do".

Asked about reports in a Sunday newspaper that he had been blocked by internal wrangling in UKIP he said: "There is no fierce infighting at all - I have never known a political party so at one.

"I do not know one single person in the party who did not want me to stand and I wanted to stand. I was very excited by the prospect and very enthusiastic."

He said reports that he was blocked because he might upstage party leader Roger Knapman were "fiction".

Candidates selected

He said: "Roger Knapman I like and I get on with and we have a very straightforward, honest relationship.

"I have no ambitions, I have no intentions, I have no desire to be the leader of UKIP. I am very happy doing what I'm doing."

Labour is defending a 15,000 majority in the seat but recent by-election results at Birmingham Hodge Hill and Leicester South suggest it could have a fight on its hands to retain Hartlepool.

Iain Wright, a local councillor and chartered accountant, was nominated at a Hartlepool Constituency Labour Party meeting on Friday night to contest the by-election for Labour.

The Liberal Democrats have nominated barrister Jody Dunn as their candidate, while the Tories are in the process of selecting a candidate.