Jeffrey Titford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeffrey Titford
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Titford in 2008
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| Leader of the UK Independence Party | |
| Acting 6 September 2010 – 5 November 2010 |
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| Preceded by | The Lord Pearson of Rannoch |
| Succeeded by | Nigel Farage |
| In office 22 January 2000 – 5 October 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Michael Holmes |
| Succeeded by | Roger Knapman |
| Member of the European Parliament for East of England |
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| In office 15 July 1999 – 15 July 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Stuart Agnew |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jeffrey William Titford
24 October 1933 West Mersea, Essex, England |
| Died | September 2024 (aged 90) |
| Political party | Reform UK |
| Other political affiliations |
Conservative Referendum Party New Britain Party UK Independence Party |
| Spouse | Margaret Titford |
Jeffrey William Titford (born 24 October 1933 – died September 2024) was a British politician. He was known for being the leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) from 2000 to 2002. He also served as a temporary leader for a short time in 2010.
Jeffrey Titford was also a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the East of England area. He held this important role from 1999 to 2009. Before he became a politician, he worked as a businessman. He was also the president of the National Association of Funeral Directors.
Contents
Jeffrey Titford: A British Politician
Jeffrey Titford had a long career in politics. He was a member of several political parties before joining UKIP.
Early Life and Political Beginnings
Before he became a well-known figure in UKIP, Jeffrey Titford was involved with other parties. He was a member of the Conservative Party and even served as a local councillor for them. He also joined the New Britain Party and the Referendum Party.
In the 1997 United Kingdom general election, he ran as a candidate for the Referendum Party. He did very well in his area, Harwich, getting almost 10 percent of the votes. Later that same year, he decided to join the UK Independence Party (UKIP).
Becoming a Member of the European Parliament (MEP)
In 1999, Jeffrey Titford made history. He became one of the very first people from UKIP to win a seat in the European Parliament. This was a big step for his party.
What is an MEP?
An MEP stands for Member of the European Parliament. These are people elected by citizens of countries in the European Union (EU). Their job is to represent their country's interests and help make laws for the entire EU. Jeffrey Titford represented the East of England region in this role.
Leading the UK Independence Party
In 2000, the leader of UKIP at the time, Michael Holmes, stepped down. This happened during a period of disagreements within the party. Jeffrey Titford then ran for the leadership position. He won the election by a small number of votes.
As leader, he promised to bring the party together and make it stronger. He largely succeeded in doing this. The Guardian newspaper described him as a "calm and friendly person" and an "ideal leader" for a party that often had disagreements.
He led UKIP into the 2001 United Kingdom general election. The party had many candidates, but they did not win any major seats. However, they did become the largest of the smaller political parties in the UK.
Stepping Down and Later Roles
Jeffrey Titford decided to step down as party leader in October 2002. He wanted to give his successor enough time to plan for the 2004 European elections. He also wanted to spend more time working on political campaigns in the East of England. He continued to be an active MEP for his region.
In the 2004 European elections, he was re-elected with many more votes. At this election, UKIP also gained another MEP, Tom Wise.
In the 2005 United Kingdom general election, Titford ran for election in Harwich again. He came fourth out of six candidates and did not win enough votes. He stepped down from the European Parliament in the 2009 European elections. David Campbell-Bannerman and Stuart Agnew took over his and Tom Wise's roles as UKIP MEPs for the East of England.
Many people in UKIP saw Jeffrey Titford as a respected older leader. In October 2005, the UKIP leader Roger Knapman appointed Titford as the party chairman for a temporary period.
Death
Jeffrey Titford passed away in September 2024. He was 90 years old.
