A NOW former Ukip member and ex-serviceman has criticised Test Valley Borough Council after claiming his party was “banned” from laying a poppy wreath in Sunday’s Remembrance ceremony.

However the authority has defended its decision and said that only representatives of political institutions, and not political parties, are allowed to lay a wreath during the official event.

The row erupted prior to Andover’s Remembrance Day Parade on Sunday 13 November, which culminated with a wreath laying ceremony at the town’s War Memorial in St Mary’s churchyard.

According Daniel Emmerson, who resigned form Ukip this week for personal reasons, said the party had donated and received a poppy wreath from the Royal British Legion with the intention of laying it during the official ceremony.

However the party received a letter from the Mayor of Test Valley’s office prior to event,asking the partynot to “breach protocol” by laying a wreath at the ceremony in the name of a political party.

The party agreed to respect the council’s wishes, but Mr Emmerson has described the decision as “nonsense”.

The 46-year-old, who served for nine years in the army’s parachute regiment, said: “From my perspective I can’t help but think, “who do they think they are?”.

“They have no right to stop us laying a wreath at the ceremony - It’s nonsense.

“The Royal British Legion has no issue with it.

“All Test Valley do is organise the roads for the event. What makes them think their protocol is even relevant.”

Ukip’s North West Hampshire chairman, Robert Hickman, has also criticised the decision, labelling it a “dangerous precedent”.

He said: “We did purchase a wreath from the Royal British Legion and our deputy chairman duly placed it on the memorial at a discrete moment immediately after the official ceremony.

“I attended the moving ceremony at the Cenotaph in London and saw wreathes being laid of course by the Prime Minister and Leader of the opposition and for clarity subsequently spoke to the Royal British Legion and enquired as to their policy in this regard.

“They explained that whilst the event is very properly non political, the Royal British Legion policy is to permit wreaths to be laid by any political party, and if ordered direct from the RBL they will ensure that they meet accepted standards of decorum and then benefit from the related donation to the great cause they represent.

“This policy seems to me to be eminently sensible on the basis that any organisation should be able to show their respect independent of race, colour, creed or party.

“The memorial service on Remembrance Sunday is an event organised by the Royal British Legion with participation by the Church.

“The role of TVBC is to make the necessary public order and traffic control arrangements on behalf of the public they serve.

“To seek to determine who shall and who shall not lay a wreath is an abuse of power, and a dangerous precedent.”

Despite the party’s claims, one member of North West Hampshire UKIP was present to lay a wreath at Sunday’s ceremony.

Ukip Hampshire county councillor, Tim Rolt, placed a wreath during the event.

However this was solely on behalf of Hampshire County Council.

Test Valley Borough Council has moved to clarify its position on Andover’s Remembrance ceremony.

A spokesperson said: “TVBC’s local protocol states that wreaths are laid on behalf of democratic institutions such as Parliament, HCC, TVBC and Andover Town Council, but not on behalf of political parties.

“Following the conclusion of the official ceremony, organisations and individuals are wel come to lay a wreath at the War Memorial in the Garden of Remembrance should they wish to do so.”