several other candidates contested the election. the uk independence party (ukip) selected toby horton, who formerly contested the seat for the conservatives in 1983, and in 1992 stood in rother valley. the green party of england and wales chose chris haine, and the british national party chose andrew spence, who was involved in the 2000 uk fuel protests and stood for ukip in the seat in 2001. the leader of the official monster raving loony party, alan hope, also stood, having previously contested a long list of seats in both general and by-elections. the english democrats chose stephen gash, and operation christian vote fielded barrister tim grainger. norman scarth stood as an independent "anti crime" candidate, having previously contested chesterfield in 1997 as an "independent old age pensioner". local independent councillor paul gittins stood on a platform calling for the regeneration of the centre of newton aycliffe.