William Cash will stand as UKIP candidate

William Cash, of Upton Cressett Hall, near Bridgnorth, will stand for the North Warwickshire seat - which he claims if is the 'most ultra marginal' seat in the country.

The seat is currently held by Tory Dan Byles, with a majority of 54, but Mr Byles announced earlier this year he will be standing down at May's General Election.

Mr Cash, whose father is Stone MP Bill Cash, said he believes the seat is very winnable for UKIP.

He said: "There is a Tory majority of just 54 - making it the most ultra-marginal seat in the country - and the area has very serious HS2 issues.

"This makes it a very winnable seat. UKIP support ran to around 26 per cent in the local council elections in May 2013 - so support is surging across the county and the HS2 impact, including collapsing house prices, has not helped.

"Who would not relish fighting the Labour candidate Mike O'Brien, a veteran Labour minister under Tony Blair who is none less than Blair's former 'open borders' immigration minister?

"He was also the energy minister responsible for pushing the 2008 Climate Change Act through parliament which resulted in the UK signing up to a mad plague of wind farms across the country that are causing fuel poverty through invidious green taxes."

He added: "I am calling next May's fight with this veteran Labour bruiser - backed by Unite - 'The Rumble in the Forest" - in reference to the fact that HS2 is slicing through the last remaining part of Shakespeare's Forest of Arden that surrounds the deer park of Packington Hall, close to the Warwickshire town of Meriden.

"Although I do not live in Warwickshire, I have lived in the West Midlands all my life. I have strong family ties to Warwickshire.

"My family originated from Coventry where we founded the Cash's of Coventry weaving and name-tapes business in 1846 and built up Cash's into one of Coventry's most famous manufacturing firms with a Royal Warrant and clients including Levi jeans and Harris Tweed.

"I am excited to be given the chance of fighting North Warwickshire North for UKIP.