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<p>Ukip AM Gareth Bennett has said he wants to lead the party in Wales
and one of his key policies would be to abolish the Assembly- to which
he was elected in 2016.</p> <p> The South Wales Central AM, who caused controversy in the run up to the election <a href="https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/ukip-candidate-who-linked-immigrants-11277821" title="https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/ukip-candidate-who-linked-immigrants-11277821">by linking ethnic minorities and litter in Cardiff</a> , says he wants a referendum on "whether the <a href="https://www.walesonline.co.uk/all-about/national-assembly">Assembly</a> has worked". </p><div id="gmail-div-gpt-ad-vip-slot" class="gmail-gpt gmail-in-article gmail-gpt-no-ad-label" style="height:8px;max-height:8px"><div id="gmail-google_ads_iframe_/5293/walesonline.co.uk/news/politics_2__container__" style="border:0pt none;margin:auto;text-align:center;width:8px"></div></div> <p>“In
Wales, the people now need to be able to have their say on whether or
not they think that the Welsh Assembly serves a useful purpose.</p> <p>"The
last referendum, in 2011, was a complete con trick, as people who did
not support the existence of the Assembly had no option to vote for.</p> <p>"We
now need to have a meaningful referendum on this. In May 2024, the
Assembly will have been in existence for 25 years – maybe that is a good
time to consult the people of Wales as to whether it has worked.”</p> <p>Another of his "radical" policies is to cut the amount of money given to promoting the Welsh language.</p> <p> Neil Hamilton <a href="https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/neil-hamilton-ousted-ukip-leader-14672320">was ousted as leader</a> in May and replaced by Caroline Jones AM. </p> <p>But Mr Hamilton has said he wants to stand again in a formal ballot is due to be held by the end of July.</p> <div class="gmail-factbox">
<h3>Who is Gareth Bennett?</h3>
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<p>Gareth Bennett was elected to the National Assembly in 2015 as AM for South Wales Central.</p> <p>Born in 1968, he is originally from Cardiff and went to Llandaff City Primary School and Radyr Comprehensive.</p> <p>He has worked in a number of jobs including in a call centre, as a writer, and labourer.</p> <p>He joined Ukip in 2014.</p> <p>He is a member of the Equalities, Local Government and Communities Committee and the Petitions Committee.</p>
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</div> <p> In his statement, he has said: "I hope that this election
will be won on policies. There are two factors at play here. One, I am
the only candidate with radical policies. The others are just offering
things that are little different from the mainstream parties. <u></u> <u></u> </p> <p>“Two,
UKIP members will only see my policies adopted if I win this leadership
election. So it’s up to the members – do they want something different,
or do they want us to be just the same as everyone else?”</p> <p> <u></u> <u></u> </p> <figure class="gmail-in-article-image">
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<span class="gmail-caption">Caroline Jones AM</span>
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</figure> <p> Mr Bennett caused controversy before he was elected by saying that Eastern European immigrants <a href="https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/ukip-candidate-accused-shocking-slur-11057253">were part of the cause of waste problems</a> in a Cardiff suburb. </p> <p> Since then, he was banned from speaking in the chamber after comments <a href="https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/am-banned-speaking-chamber-after-14034253">about transgender people</a> which were described as "hateful". </p> <p> He also invited Donald Trump to the opening of his <a href="https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/ukip-am-invited-donald-trump-12174926">constituency office in Pontypridd.</a> That office never opened. </p> <p> <u></u> <u></u> Mr Bennett has said he "has" to stand up for free speech. </p>
<br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+<br><br> Harold F. Schiffman<br><br>Professor Emeritus of <br> Dravidian Linguistics and Culture <br>Dept. of South Asia Studies <br>University of Pennsylvania<br>Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305<br><br>Phone: (215) 898-7475<br>Fax: (215) 573-2138 <br><br>Email: <a href="mailto:haroldfs@gmail.com" target="_blank">haroldfs@gmail.com</a><br><a href="http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/" target="_blank">http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/</a> <br><br>-------------------------------------------------</div>
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