IN response to the article and announcement by Alan Johnson that The Green Party cannot afford to stand a candidate in Bolton West, he makes the statement that 'The Green Party is not funded by big business like the Tories and UKIP and that Labour is funded by the Trade Unions'.

This statement about UKIP is incorrect in that whilst UKIP as a national party may well have received, and probably continues to receive, funding from business people, local branches of UKIP are self funding and to date UKIP Bolton does not receive funding from either business people or from Party funding.

Alan Johnson is correct in saying that elections are expensive and that is the case for UKIP candidates as well. Our local candidates rely on funding from branch resources, and candidates for targeted wards are also expected to make a contribution towards their campaign expenses.

In the case of parliamentary candidates, to which Alan Johnson's article relates, all three of the UKIP parliamentary candidates will be financing their own campaigns and money will not be received from Party funding. I trust this clarifies the matter so far as UKIP Bolton is concerned.

Joan Johnson

Chairman, UKIP Bolton Branch.