An IT teacher is to stand as a UKIP candidate in May’s general election.
Heckmondwike Grammar School’s Aleksandar Lukic has announced his intentions to try and gain the Batley and Spen ward seat.
Mr Lukic who is in his mid 20s, and from Staincliffe, has been teaching information computer technology and computing at the ethnically diverse school since September 2013, when he joined as a newly qualified teacher.
It will be the first time that UKIP have fielded a candidate in the ward in the general election, after deciding not to oppose prospective Conservative candidate Janice Small in 2010.
Mr Lukic, a member of the party’s youth wing, Young Independence and also a former pupil of the school, reportedly invited questions from his colleagues about his decision to stand in letters posted into their pigeon holes last week following his formal selection.
Mr Lukic is the second teacher to be revealed as a general election candidate in the area.
Last week science teacher Rob Butler, who taught at All Saints Catholic College and is a current teacher at a Manchester comprehensive, was named the UKIP candidate for the Huddersfield ward.
UKIP chairman for Dewsbury, Batley and Spen, Gregg Burrows, also confirmed that Ravensthorpe-based Mark Thackray will stand for the seat in Dewsbury.
He stood for the party in Leeds North West in 2010, only polling 600 votes.
Meanwhile sitting Conservative MP Craig Whittaker has been reselected to contest the Calder Valley seat at May’s General Election.
He was unanimously chosen by Conservative Party members.
He said: “Since I was elected in 2010 we have seen a complete turnaround in the local economy. Businesses are now feeling increasingly confident about creating jobs and investing in our area for the longer-term.
“There are now more people in work locally than ever before and unemployment has reduced by over half to just 2% since the last election.
“With the support of local people I hope to continue working to create additional jobs and investment in the Calder Valley as your MP after May’.”
He will contest the seat against Labour’s John Fenton-Glynn, the Lib Dem’s Alisdair Calder McGregor, UKIP’s Paul Rogan and Jenny Shepherd for the Green Party.
