THE ACCUSED: A FORMER SOLDIER WHO EVEN SCARES HIS OWN PARTY

MIKE Hookem is a plain-speaking Yorkshireman who learnt how to look after himself growing up in Hull. Fiercely proud of his working class background, the MEP credits his rise up the career ladder to an early spell in the armed forces.

Even as a 2-year-old grandfather he still has a reputation as a man not to cross. The son of a fish filleter, Mr Hookem left school at 15 and was stuck in dead-end jobs before joining the Royal Air Force at 17. He said his four years in the RAF kickstarted his life and made him determined to be successful.

He then spent nine years in the Royal Engineers, believed to be as a reservist. His last job before becoming an MEP – after picking up a series of skilled trades – was as a manager for a property firm in Hull, his home town. A lifelong Labour voter, he switched to UKIP in 2008 and soon made an impression. Within four years he was chairman of the party’s regional committee.

He stood unsuccessfully as a candidate at the 2010 general election before being elected as an MEP in 2014. With his military experience, Mr Hookem was appointed defence spokesman.

A former UKIP colleague in Yorkshire described him as surly – ‘like a very arrogant used car salesman’. He added: ‘He is not to be messed with. He is always saying things like “We can’t be having any of that”.

‘He is a very naughty boy, not that tall – but very stocky and looks a bit of a brawler. If he punched you, you would know about it. There was a joke going around that he was a good reason to leave UKIP and join the Tories because he was that aggressive. If you cross him you had better watch out.’