Roger Knapman

Roger Knapman
Leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party
In office October 2002 – September 2006
Preceded by	Jeffrey Titford
Succeeded by	Nigel Farage
Government Whip for the Conservative Party
In office 1995–1997
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Armed Forces Minister
In office 1990–1992
Member of the European Parliament for the South West England
In office 10th June 2004 – 4th June 2009
Preceded by	Earl of Stockton
Succeeded by	Earl of Dartmouth
Member of Parliament for Stroud
In office 11th June 1987 – 1st May 1997
Preceded by	Sir Anthony Kershaw
Succeeded by	David Drew
Personal details
Born	(1944-02-20) 20 February 1944 Crediton, Devon, England
Nationality	English
Political party	UK Independence Party, formerly Conservative
Spouse(s)	Carolyn Knapman
Children	2
Residence	United Kingdom
Alma mater	Royal Agricultural College

Roger Maurice Knapman (born 20 February 1944 in Crediton, Devon) is a British politician and the former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP).

He was educated at the Royal Agricultural College.

As a member of the Conservative Party, he was elected MP for Stroud in 1987. Between 1990 and 1992, he served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the armed forces minister, Archie Hamilton. He resigned from this position in order to oppose the Maastricht Treaty. He successfully defended his seat in the 1992 general election. In 1995 he became a government whip. In 1997, however, he lost his seat to Labour candidate, David Drew.

Shortly afterwards, Knapman left the Conservative party to join UKIP. He stood as their candidate in the 2001 general election for North Devon, coming fourth yet narrowly retaining his deposit.

From 2000, he was UKIP's political advisor, and in 2002 he was elected unopposed as party leader. In 2004 he was elected a Member of the European Parliament for the South West England constituency. As leader of the only British party in the European Parliament to vote against the expansion of the EU in 2004 (and publicly opposing immigration), there was some amusement in May 2006 when it was revealed that he had employed a team of Polish builders to renovate his Grade II listed home in Devon, claiming there were no suitable local workers - a claim denied by local builders.

He contested Totnes at the 2005 general election, coming 4th with 7.7% of the vote.

Before entering politics, Roger Knapman was a Chartered Surveyor. He is married with two children, and lives in Devon.

He announced in 2006 that he had no intention of seeking re-election as party leader; the leadership contest was won in September of that year by Nigel Farage MEP. Knapman remains the only leader of UKIP to have succeeded in completing a full four-year term.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Roger Knapman
• Official website
• Profile at European Parliament website

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Anthony Kershaw	Member of Parliament for Stroud 1987–1997	Succeeded by David Drew
Party political offices
Preceded by Jeffrey Titford	Leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party 2002–2006	Succeeded by Nigel Farage