Mike Hookem
| Mike Hookem MEP | |
|---|---|
| UKIP Fisheries Spokesperson | |
|
Assumed office 29 November 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Ray Finch |
| UKIP Defence Spokesperson | |
|
In office 24 July 2014 – 29 November 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Gerard Batten |
| Succeeded by | Bill Etheridge |
| Member of the European Parliament for Yorkshire and the Humber | |
|
Assumed office 1 July 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Rebecca Taylor |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Michael Hookem 9 October 1953 Kingston upon Hull, England |
| Political party |
UK Independence Party (2008-) Labour Party (1982-2008) |
Michael "Mike" Hookem (born 9 October 1953) is a Member of the European Parliament for the Yorkshire and the Humber region for the UK Independence Party. He has served as UKIP's Fisheries spokesman since 29 November 2016,[1] and had previously served as defence spokesman from 2014-16.[2] He was elected in 2014.[3]
Early life
Hookem grew up in Hull in the fishing community in the east of the city where his father worked on the docks. Hookem left school at 15.[4] At the age of 17 he enlisted in the Royal Air Force.[4] He served for four years and after his stint was finished he went into the private sector.[4]
After his private sector work in skilled trades and management positions, he re-joined the military in the Royal Engineers as a Commando Engineer, a position he held for another 9 years.[4]
UKIP politics
Hookem voted Labour until he became disillusioned with what he considered “a criminal Labour government”.[4] In response to his disillusionment with Labour, Hookem joined UKIP in 2008, after being a member of the Labour Party for years.[4]
He stood as UKIP candidate in Hull East in the 2010 general election, but finished fourth with 2,745 votes (8%).
Hookem was elected in 2014 to the European Parliament.[3] Until that election he served as UKIP's regional chairman for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. He was replaced as chairman by Judith Morris from July 2014.
He was the running-mate for Bill Etheridge in the first UKIP leadership election of 2016, which ended on 16 September 2016, with Etheridge and Hookem finishing third.
On 6 October 2016, Hookem was reported to have been involved in a fight with fellow UKIP member Steven Woolfe during a UKIP meeting at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.[4][5][6] Hookem said he had not punched Woolfe, but did admit to a "scuffle" with him and that he acted in self-defence.[7][8] The altercation was an outgrowth of a party meeting to discuss news reports that Woolfe was in talks about defecting to the Conservative Party.[8] Hookem said Woolfe "took exception" to his comment about Woolfe turning his leadership application paperwork late.[8] Hookem was asked if he would accept a suspension and Hookem said: "If they suspend me, yes. By our rules if they suspend me they have to suspend Steven Woolfe".[8]
Elections contested
UK Parliament
| Date of election | Constituency | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 general election | Hull, East | UKIP | 2,745 | 8.0[9] |
European Parliament elections
| Year | Region | Party | Votes | % | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Yorkshire and the Humber | UKIP | 403,630 | 31.1 | Elected | Multi member constituencies; party list |
References
- ↑ "Paul Nuttall builds up UKIP's top team". BBC News. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
- ↑ Allegretti, Aubrey; Waugh, Paul (6 October 2016). "Steven Woolfe Recovering In Hospital After Altercation At Ukip MEPs Meeting". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- 1 2 "Mike HOOKEM". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Booth, Robert (6 October 2016). "Mike Hookem: a 'working-class lad' who turned to Ukip". The Guardian. Kings Place, London. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
A Labour voter most of his life, Mike Hookem joined Ukip in 2008 and recently became its defence spokesman. His father worked filleting fish on the Humberside docks and Hookem left school at 15, working in low-paid jobs before joining the Royal Air Force at 17. He left after four years but later rejoined the armed forces as commando engineer in the Royal Engineers. He has also worked as a bus and lorry driver, a carpenter and a joiner.
- ↑ Watts, Joe (6 October 2016). "Steven Woolfe collapse: Ukip leadership favourite in 'serious condition' after altercation at European Parliament". The Independent. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ↑ "UKIP's Steven Woolfe in hospital 'after altercation'". BBC News. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ↑ "UKIP MEP Mike Hookem denies assaulting Steven Woolfe". BBC News. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 "Mike Hookem: 'I acted in self-defence'". ITV. London. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ↑ "Hull East". BBC News. Retrieved 10 November 2015.