A UKIP branch chairman who assaulted his wife must resign or face a vote of no confidence.

Colne Valley UKIP branch chairman Greg Broome was yesterday convicted of an assault in which his estranged wife suffered a cut below her lip .

Now branch treasurer Melanie Roberts has advised Broome to resign or face a vote of no confidence when the branch next meets on Tuesday.

A district judge yesterday found Broome, 37, of Golcar, guilty of an assault on Joanne Broome, at the home the couple shared, on August 7, 2012.

Ms Roberts said: "If this was the case he should never have stood for chair. It was unfair for others."

She added: "Had he told me about the court case I would have told him not to go for any positions until the case was over.

"I can't have a member like that standing or holding positions.

"I've advised him that the best thing he can do is resign.

"If he's not handed in his resignation by Tuesday I will propose a vote of no confidence."

Broome, a full-time carer, stood as a UKIP candidate for Kirklees Council in May and November last year.

Broome declined to say whether he would be resigning but said he would make a decision after advice from UKIP's regional organiser and national UKIP chairman Steve Crowther.

He said: "I will be taking the decision in the next couple of days.

"I have spoken to my regional organiser - as stated in the party rulebook - who will be taking it to the party chairman.

"Once I make that decision we have a branch meeting coming up on Tuesday and I will be addressing the branch."

Broome declined to comment on whether it was appropriate for a person with a criminal conviction to chair a UKIP branch, but said he would be posting a statement on UKIP Kirklees' Facebook account.

Conservative MP David Ruffley yesterday announced he would retire from Parliament next year following a police caution for assaulting his ex-partner earlier this year.

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