The UK Independence Party is targeting a slew of seats in the forthcoming council elections, with a candidate set to contest every ward.

The Eurosceptic political party held their first ever public meeting in the borough last Friday in Balham Library, Ramsden Road, Balham with 20 candidates putting themselves forward in the May elections.

It is a huge contrast from 2010, when not a single Ukip candidate stood in the borough elections.

The party has said it is placing particular focus on Balham, Latchmere, Queenstown and West Hill wards.

Members of Ukip Wandsworth branch believe the party could be successful after winning 150 seats in the May 2013 local elections divided along 35 councils.

Forty five people attended the meeting to hear speeches given by Ukip MEP Gerard Batten, MEP candidate Paul Oakley and Elizabeth Jones, candidate for Brixton Hill.

Local activists and businessmen also gave speeches during the "The European Union - why we must leave" meeting.

The party has said it will focus on cutting council regulation and waste, cracking down on crime and provide a local referenda on major planning applications.

There will also be incentives on encouraging enterprise, jobs and regenerating Wandsworth high streets.

Alexander Balkan, Ukip Wandsworth secretary, said: "Wandsworth Council is going one way and local residents go another way.

"Residents are very concerned they have to pay for local planning applications they don't even want.

"The candidates are bright hard working and really want to get into office.

"We want to provide people with the UKIP option, people do want to vote UKIP. We need to have candidates for people to vote for us."

Ukip MEP Gerard Batten recently made national headlines after making controversial comments calling on Muslims to sign a special code of conduct to prove they reject violence.

The election will be held on May 22.


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