A UKIP Hampshire parliamentary candidate has dropped her bid to enter parliament at the general election for ''personal reasons''.

The announcement that Ukip MEP Diane James, below, will no longer be a candidate came just hours after she delivered a speech to the party's conference in Margate.

Ms James - Ukip's justice and home affairs spokeswoman - is believed to have decided she needs to spend more time with a sick family member.

A party spokesman said: ''Diane James is standing down as a PPC in north west Hampshire for purely personal reasons.''

The decision comes two weeks after Cllr Tony Hooke, Mrs James campaign manager, stood down as leader of the UKIP on Hampshire County Council saying he could not do this effectively alongside his role as campaign manager.

Mrs James with Nigel Farage

Cllr Hooke, who represents the party in the Andover South ward on Hampshire County Council, said he had decided to put his full efforts into the election campaign.

Pictured below with Mrs James, he described it as “the number one priority for Hampshire” and Ms James as the most important of UKIP's Hampshire candidates.

Last year 55-year-old Mrs James became a Euro MP during for the south east region.

In North Hampshire she was attempting to succeed retiring Conservative MP Sir George Young, who had a 28,000 vote lead on his UKIP rival at the 2010 General Election.

At the time of being appointed PCC she said “I do like a challenge.

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t like a challenge. But it is winnable and I believe that in my heart.

Mrs James with Eastleigh Liberal Democrat MP Mike Thornton at the by election

“This is a seat that the Conservatives have taken for granted and they were thinking they wouldn’t have to defend it.

“But we are going to put up a very, very good campaign with a great team.”