THE North-East committee of a right-wing political party has been suspended amid allegations of irregularities.

An investigation is under way into discrepancies in the selection of candidates to stand in the European Parliamentary Elections 2004 for the UK Independence Party (UKIP).

The North-East branch has been suspended until the investigation is completed and an emergency meeting has been held to discuss the situation.

Martin Cole, who is hoping to stand as a UKIP candidate for the North-East region, said last night he may withdraw his support because he is unhappy in the way the selection process has been handled.

Rules and regulations on the selection of candidates are governed by the European Election Committee.

The national executive committee (NEC) of the anti-European party is carrying out the investigation and further discussions will take place today at a meeting of the NEC, ahead of a final list of candidates being announced.

Derek Clarke, secretary of the UKIP, said: "I can confirm it is correct that the North-East regional committee has been suspended.

"There are alleged irregularities in the way the committee went about the final selection of candidates. It is not for me to say what the irregularities are.

"The National Executive Committee will investigate the whole issue. An emergency meeting of the NEC has already been held into the matter."

Mr Cole has also expressed concern about how British National Party (BNP) candidate Trevor Agnew, of Darlington, was allowed to rejoin the UKIP, despite previously being expelled for his links to the right-wing extremist group.

UKIP has since expelled Mr Agnew again after it was announced he was standing as a BNP candidate in Darlington.

Mr Agnew said he did not rejoin UKIP but was sent a membership card through the post by the party, a move UKIP denied.

Mr Cole said: "The latest revelations of the party's connections with the BNP, and unpaid membership cards descending from the blue, have led me to announce that I will be unwilling to continue my UKIP MEP candidacy without a complete change of the leadership of the party."