Cllr Philip Fawkes has quit as leader of UKIP on Hampshire County Council to spend more time with his family

Cllr Philip Fawkes, who represents South Waterside, said he would be stepping down to allow time to visit his baby granddaughter who is moving to Scotland.

With the elections coming up Cllr Fawkes said he was unable to balance his family commitments with that of his party.

He said: “I just took stock of the situation and thought it would not be fair on the party. Something has to give in this situation and I felt there were others who could do the job.”

Cllr Fawkes, a descendant of 17th century political rebel Guy Fawkes, has only been in the post since May following the previous leader Ray Finch’s election to the European Parliament.

Following his departure, Cllr Tony Hooke, who represents Andover, has been elected as group leader six months before the General and local government elections in May 2015.

Cllr Hooke said: “Phil is a very much loved member of our team. But you have to be well behind this job full time.

“It’s the most important period in UKIP’s development. Clearly it’s our intention to get as many MPs and councillors elected.”

Cllr Tony Hooke

The anti-European party has been making huge gains in the past six months, with members elected to Hampshire councils, plus new seats in the European Parliament.

Cllr Hooke’s election as group leader comes just three months after his position in the party was hanging in the balance.

After being arrested in May in connection with an alleged assault he signalled that he was prepared to resign from the party if he was charged – despite protesting his innocence.

The allegation arose out of an incident between members of the party and protesters at a meeting at Portsmouth’s Guildhall on April 28 which had been attended by party leader Nigel Farage and launched UKIP’s breakthrough election campaign.

But after two months police told him he would face no further action and Cllr Hooke stepped back from quitting the party for good.