UKIP suspends fraud trial Euro MP

Mr Mote was elected on 10 June to the European Parliament

The UK Independence Party has withdrawn the whip from one of its new MEPs after it emerged he faces trial on allegations of housing benefit fraud.

A UKIP spokesman said Ashley Mote had failed to tell party managers of the impending court case.

Mr Mote was elected for the south east of England in the European Parliament.

UKIP said: "The whip has been removed because Mr Mote did not inform the party of this situation before, during or immediately after the campaign."

Press report

The spokesman added: "We do not want to comment on the particulars of the court case, or in any way try to influence the outcome of the case."

UKIP said they only discovered the situation because of an article in the Daily Telegraph.

The party, which wants Britain out of the EU, had 12 MEPs following the European Election on 10 June.

They included former Labour MP and ex-chatshow host Robert Kilroy-Silk.