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Not all political candidates for the Assembly need to speak Welsh, a senior Ukip figure has said.

The man in charge of writing the policy for Ukip’s bid to enter the Senedd, Mark Reckless, claims the party could win up to 10 seats at next year’s elections.

But the former Former Rochester and Strood Conservative MP, who defected to Ukip but lost his seat at the general election, could not confirm that the candidates would be from or live in Wales as they haven't been selected yet.

He also added they didn't have to speak Welsh.

Mr Reckless said: “I don’t think everyone needs to be able to speak Welsh.

“But I think it’s important people should be able to communicate in Wales: that means speaking English or Welsh, we recognise that many people are able to speak both well.”

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Mr Reckless said Ukip would be a “breath of fresh air” in the Assembly saying that they would end a “cosy consensus” which he claimed had developed between Labour, Plaid and the Lib Dems.

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He said he hoped they would get two seats in every region including North Wales.

Mr Reckless added: “Rather than just calling ourselves the party of Wales we actually have support which is truly national across Wales.”