by political editor Paul Francis

Kent MEP Nigel Farage is to take on the new Speaker of the Commons at the next general election in a break with political convention.

The leader of the UK Independence Party has also announced that he is to relinquish his position as party leader to concentrate on the election campaign.

Mr Farage said he had chosen to take on John Bercow because he believed he represented "all that is worst about British politics."

Mr Farage added: "He has taken on one of the most important jobs as Speaker after a massive expenses scandal that he has been embroiled in. He is also somebody who has supported ever closer engagement with the European Union which means we now have a Parliament that cannot even decide which light bulbs to have in its own living rooms.

"I believe there should be a Speaker that fights like a lion to win back those rights and privileges so we can be a proper democratic nation again."

He dismissed complaints that in deciding to stand against the Speaker, who has a majority of more than 18,000 he had broken a long-standing political convention that whoever held the role was not opposed at an election.

"As far as I am concerned you can throw the convention out of the window because what John Bercow and MPs have done is take away our democratic rights."

His decision to stand aside as UKIP leader after did not mean he would be less involved but he no longer had the time needed to lead, organise and manage the party through a general election campaign.

"I am not walking away and I am not reducing my workload but as I am taking on John Bercow I cannot do what would be expected of me as a party leader, which is to run an election campaign."