Support from Tim Rice — and selection of David Pollitt to fight Claire Perry – is double boost for UKIP

The boost to UKIP given by Sir Tim Rice, the Oscar-winning millionaire lyricist and music maestro, has been warmly welcomed by Neil Hamilton, UKIP’s Wiltshire chairman now in charge of its Euro-elections campaign.

And delight too has been expressed  by Tony Molland, chairman of the newly-reborn Devizes UKIP branch, which has just selected David Pollitt, Wiltshire’s sole UKIP councillor, to fight Claire Perry at the next general election.

Sir Tim, 69, admired for the musicals Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar, is a former Tory fund-raiser and is known to have given an undisclosed donation to UKIP while announcing that he doesn’t fully support any one particular party.

But he has declared: “UKIP are clearly on the scene now which they weren’t a few years ago. On the whole I think there are lots of major problems with Europe. I think we should almost certainly be away, be free from Europe.”

It’s a double boost, according to Neil Hamilton, who told Marlborough News Online:  “Tim Rice has been a friend of mine for many years.  Like me, he has given up on the Conservative Party, which is no longer recognisable as the party we joined.

“For Tim and me, it is now ‘Nigel Farage Superstar!’”

And he pointed out: “David Cameron is a social democrat and UKIP is now the true defender of patriotic values.  Tim has always been a strong believer in an independent Britain and UKIP is the only way for us to get our country back.”

As to the selection of David Pollitt, he added:  “He will be an excellent candidate for UKIP in Devizes and Marlborough for the next General Election.  

“He will be a fighting, voice for the constituency — unlike Claire Perry, who sees herself as Westminster’s Ambassadress in Devizes.   David will never sacrifice the constituency or his independence of mind on the altar of personal ambition.”

Tony Molland agrees.

“David Has been on a rapid learning curve since he was elected to Wiltshire Council last May,” he told Marlborough News Online.  “He is doing extremely well despite the big problem he has that he is there entirely on his own.

“He was to a large extent isolated early on but he is making his mark there now and is treated with respect. He has the determination and drive. I am very pleased our membership elected him as a prospective parliamentary candidate.

“Our intention is very much to give Claire Perry a good run for our money.  And David will certainly do that.”

And on Sir Tim Rice’s support, he declared: “It’s absolutely a real coup for UKIP.  He is a very experienced PR man apart from anything else.  His is such a well known name within the public domain that it will encourage others to join up with UKIP.”