THE former deputy leader of the UK Independence Party on Hampshire County Council will face no further action after he was arrested over assault claims last month.

It had been alleged Councillor Tony Hooke assaulted a protester at a UKIP election meeting in Portsmouth attended by party leader Nigel Farage.

But now Hampshire police have confirmed that the 52-year-old councillor will not face further action. Cllr Hooke said: “I feel extremely aggrieved about this as the whole thing was unbelievable and degrading. I was held in a police cell for seven hours and had my belt and shoes taken from me and then questioned for 20 minutes when the video evidence clearly showed that there was no assault.”

Cllr Hooke announced his resignation from UKIP earlier this month over the allegations, claiming he did not want to bring the party into disrepute before the General Election. He is now an independent councillor.