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Bill Etheridge made Ukip defence spokesman after Paul Nuttall's election

Bill Etheridge was today appointed to Ukip's top team just hours after new leader Paul Nuttall replaced Nigel Farage.

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Mr Etheridge, a West Midlands MEP and Sedgley councillor for Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, is the party's new defence spokesman.

He said: "I am excited and it is a great honour.

"It is an area where the party will make a big difference as it is our policy for a big increase in spending. I'm a big believer of the phrase 'peace through strength'."

Mr Etheridge pulled out of the Ukip leadership contest to back his personal friend Mr Nuttall.

He said the party's new leader will be targeting the region after taking over the reins from Nigel Farage.

"Paul really sees the Black Country and the West Midlands as somewhere that has been let down by the traditional parties," Mr Etheridge said.

"As a region it overwhelmingly backed the campaign to leave the EU. Those people are looking for a voice and Ukip will be that voice for them."

The election was the second in the space of a few months, following previous victor Diane James's decision to step down after just 18 days in the job.

Mr Nuttall took 62.6 per cent of the vote, beating former deputy chairwoman Suzanne Evans, and ex-soldier John Rees-Evans.

The new leader has been MEP for North West England since 2009 and has served as party chairman and deputy leader.

West Midlands MEP Jill Seymour, who is waiting to see if she will be kept on as party transport spokesman, added: "I would like to warmly congratulate Paul Nuttall on his victory.

"As a long-term member and former deputy leader, he has immense experience and a great knowledge of the party; including a real grasp of the strengths and weaknesses we may have had in the past.

"He also chaired the Ukip National Executive Committee, and had the calmness and fortitude to keep it steady when it was under fire.

"Our new leader now has a vital task ahead of him, to ensure that the 17 million-plus who voted to leave the EU get what they asked for, and are not expected to settle for some watered-down deal."

And Ms Evans, from Shrewsbury, added: "I would like to give my wholehearted congratulations to Paul.

"It has been a pleasure to work with him throughout the leadership campaign and he is going to be a very able and popular leader.

"I am thankful to the people who voted for me and I am very optimistic for the party's future."

Sion Simon, Labour's candidate for West Midlands Mayor, said: "Clearly, they (Ukip) don't have any kind of plan for the West Midlands. They don't believe in us governing ourselves and want to carry on with our region being run by politicians in London."

Born on Merseyside, Mr Nuttall is regarded as well-placed to poach northern working-class voters from Labour.

"The country needs a strong Ukip more now than ever before, for if Ukip ceases to be an electoral force, there will be no impetus on Theresa May and her Government to give us real Brexit and we will end up with some mealy-mouthed, backsliding version," he said.

"This will be a betrayal of the British people and a united Ukip under my leadership will never, ever allow that to happen."

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