UKIP has parachuted a former SAS man into its election battle for Hereford.

Ex paratrooper and SAS soldier Nigel Ely says he’s fighting for his country again – to stop “illegal and unjust” wars.

Mr Ely came through selection with majority support from UKIP’s Hereford & South Herefordshire branch.

Branch Chairman Richard Smith saluted Nigel as a “true working class patriot” with the “character and leadership lacking from our political leaders in this county for decades.”

Mr Ely said he was “ honoured” to have been selected having only signed up to UKIP 18 months ago worried about a third world war.

“I could see the LibLabCon were so intent in taking this great country into political union with a German dominated European Super State. I felt I had to do something such was my frustration,” said Mr Ely.

“And then Cameron’s futile threats to Russia over the Ukraine issue, I thought, this man’s going to start World War Three if he’s not careful.

“This had a real sobering effect on me, the man has to be stopped, so I threw my name in to the UKIP arena and now I find myself fighting once again for my country.

It’s a fight I’m up for too, make no mistake about that. I see it as a matter of duty to stop this crazy policy our political leaders have pursuing illegal and un-just wars,” he said.

Previous UKIP candidate Kip Waistell quit in September citing “personal vendettas” within the party amongst his reasons for doing so.

Behind the scenes, Mr Waistell was known to be at odds with UKIP activists over the targeting of seats on Herefordshire Council.

He thought it counterproductive for UKIP to try and eject Independent councillors he respected and split the vote where Independents were, in turn, targeting seats.

Mr Waistell remains in dispute with UKIP.

Former branch secretary Derek Preedy subsequently told the Hereford Times that some members were “disgusted” at the way Mr Waistell had been treated and at the “undemocratic” treatment of the branch committee in general.

The then branch took the decision to dissolve itself following a vote of members.

At the time, county UKIP MEP James Carver said that due to “negative influences from within” the branch was not functioning according to UKIP's aims and objectives.

Dissolution, said Mr Carver, was a “positive move” allowing for the reforming of a “leaner and fitter” local association, to be built around “forward looking, and constructive” local activists and members.

He is “absolutely delighted” at Nigel’s selection as a “man of calibre” who has made a huge personal commitment to “our country”.