Ukip elects Paul Nuttall as new party leader

Former Ukip deputy leader Paul Nuttall has been elected as leader of the party after winning 62.6% of the vote, with Peter Whittle named the new deputy leader.

Suzanne Evans came in a distant second with 19.3% and John Rees-Evans was close behind her with 18.1%.

The party has been in a state of limbo in the last few months after Britain voted to leave the European Union in June, when Nigel Farage stepped down as head of the party.

Diane James was elected leader in September, before leaving the position only 18 days into the job, when Farage stepped in to to take over as interim boss.

Bootle-born Nuttall, a former history lecturer and Tranmere youth footballer, called for the party to unite together at an event in London following the announcement of the result on Monday.

The party faces a battle to retain their relevance after Brexit but he also said they had to see the process through to its end.

The north-west of England MEP, who has supported leftist economic policies but also proposed holding a referendum on the potential UK reintroduction of the death penalty, said that rather than going after votes from the Conservatives, it will be the Labour party that Ukip should attempt to displace.

"I want to replace the Labour party and make Ukip the patriotic party of the UK," Nuttall said.

It is unclear what role former leader Farage will play in the new era for Ukip, after leading the party through its most successful period.

Bookmaker Ladbrokes made him 3/1 favourite to be the next leader of the party after Nuttall.

"We don't know when the next UKIP leadership contest will be so it makes sense to keep Farage's odds to a minimum," said the bookmaker's Alex Donohue.