Although no Young Independence candidate managed to land a major council seat this past election, impressive and encouraging results were to be found all across the country.

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

At a Young Independence fringe meeting following Saturday’s Spring Conference in Scarborough, the brand new YI council was announced to both a raft of UKIP activists and members of the party leadership.

As you may be aware the annual YI Council elections are taking place shortly, culminating in the result at Spring Conference in Scarborough on Saturday 5th March.

The time for YI members to help candidate Paul Nuttall MEP in the Oldham and Saddleworth by-election is this weekend, the 8th/9th of January

Free accommodation is available and and the UKIP Campaign Office is located at 173 Lees Road, Oldham OL4 1JP.

The next YI Council meeting will take place on Saturday 30th October, meeting at UEA in Norwich.

There will be an open meeting at 3PM to which all YI members are invited to attend. It will be informal, with the opportunity to meet other YI members and the YI Council a great chance for those in UKIP wanting to get more involved with the youth wing.

A one-day UKIP Conference on March 19th will see Young Independence's annual AGM take place, including the annual elections of the YI Council.

Those who are interested in standing for a position on the YI Council or would like more information on how to vote or take part should email youngindependence@ukip.org.

The next Young Independence Committee meeting is going to take place at the Railway Tavern, London. It is literally a one minute walk from the easily-accessible London Liverpool Street Railway and Underground Stations.

The Committee meeting will start at around 11am. From 3pm ALL YI members are invited to an Open Forum where they can put their ideas and thoughts to the YI Committee.

Invitation to an action day in Buckingham on Saturday 26th September.

As you are aware Nigel Farage will be fighting the Buckingham seat against John Bercow the Speaker of the House of Commons. We are having our first action day on Saturday 26th September and hope you will come our join in our campaign.

For further details please contact 01280 822228/ or email youngindependence@ukip.org

It is an honour to be the first elected Chairman of Young Independence. The election, held at the party's Spring Rally, has me now heading YI alongside National Co-ordinator Lisa Duffy at a time of vital importance in this European Election cycle.