John Rees-Evans
| John Rees-Evans | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1978 (age 37–38) Hampshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | UK Independence Party |
| Website |
johnreesevans |
|
Military career | |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Service number | 24965344 |
| Unit | Parachute Regiment (did not complete training) |
John Rees-Evans FRGS (born 1978) is a UK Independence Party (UKIP) political activist and candidate who contested the party's November 2016 leadership election, coming third with 18.1% of the vote, behind Suzanne Evans, who received 19.3% share of the vote.
Personal life
Born in Hampshire and educated overseas, including at the Jeppe High School for Boys in Johannesburg, Rees-Evans joined the British Army Reserve at 19 after leaving school where he served for five years including a year training with the Parachute Regiment. He now lives in Penrhiwceiber with his family and has a professional background in business, particularly adventure tourism. He also has houses in the south of France and Bulgaria and an interest in horses.[1]
Political career
He contested the seat of Cardiff South and Penarth in the United Kingdom general election, 2015 receiving 13.8% of the vote, a swing of 11.2% to UKIP.
Rees-Evans declared his candidacy for UKIP leader on 24 October 2016.[2] He has pledged to ensure the UK leaves the EU and that the government is reduced in size and function. He believes that the current political class in Westminster are out of touch with citizens and pledged to make politics more transparent and open if elected UKIP leader.[3]
Rees-Evans differs radically from the other candidates advocating the introduction of direct democracy first within UKIP and then seeking to use it with intention to cause massive reform of the entire UK political system.[4] He received the endorsement of boxer Tyson Fury.[5]
He is the last remaining Faragist candidate in the race. After walking out of tightly controlled hustings after being told "not to rock the boat", he has embarked on a nationwide tour of membership similar to that of Nigel Farage prior to the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, 2016. Sam Gould, the Chairman of UKIP Caerphilly confirmed this commenting "Policy-wise he is similar to Raheem. John is a gentlemen and has done so much for UKIP, helping them produce party political broadcasts and has raised a lot of money for the party, too."[6]
References
- ↑ "About John Rees-Evans". John Rees-Evans for Leader. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
- ↑ "UKIP leadership: John Rees-Evans declares". BBC News. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ↑ Simons, Ned (24 October 2016). "Ukip Leadership Candidate Admits Mistake Of Claiming 'Gay Donkey Raped His Horse'". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ↑ Mance, Henry (31 October 2016). "Favourite to be Ukip leader suggests referendum on capital punishment". The Financial Times. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ Moore, Charlie (11 November 2016). "Would-be Ukip leader who said his horse was raped by gay donkey is backed by drug-fuelled boxer Tyson Fury who said making homosexuality legal was a sign of the end times". Daily Mail. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ↑ UKIP leadership latest – John Rees-Evans walks out of hustings event, November 3, 2016 by Jack Smith, New Media Central