Neil Hamilton completes comeback with Ukip win in Wales

Disgraced former Tory one of seven party members to scoop up seats in Cardiff Bay

Neil Hamilton talks up his Welsh credentials with voters in Camarthen (Glenn Edwards)

Neil Hamilton has been elected as a Ukip assembly member in Wales nearly 20 years after losing his parliamentary seat in the “Cash for Questions” scandal.

The former Tory was one of seven Ukip politicians to make history by winning their first seats in the Welsh Assembly - despite the party being opposed to its existence until 2013.

He said: "I hadn't anticipated at the age of 67 that I would once again be elected to public office, particularly after I had been liberated from it so spectacularly in 1997 by the electorate."

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Mark Reckless, who defected from the Conservative party but lost his seat in Rochester at the general election last year, was also elected in South Wales East alongside David Rowlands.

Nathan Gill and Michelle Brown were selected for the North Wales regional list, Caroline Jones won a seat in South Wales West and Gareth Bennett won in South Wales Central.

Ukip leader Nigel Farage said the result showed the party “now stands up for many traditional Labour voters”.

But commentators have speculated the party’s success in Wales could cause more trouble in the already fractured party as the Welsh AMs form an alternative power based beyond Mr Farage’s control.

In March, the Huffington Post reported Mr Farage attempted to force his own list of candidates for the Welsh Assembly on the party and block Mr Hamilton’s candidacy.

The 67-year-old was a junior minister in John Major’s government before being embroiled in the Cash for Questions scandal when he and fellow MP Tim Smith were found to be receiving money in brown envelopes from entrepreneur Mohamed al-Fayed in exchange for asking questions in parliament.

Journalist Martin Bell ran an anti-sleaze campaign against him at the 1997 general and overturned his 16,000 majority.

Mr Bell retired at the 2001 election and his seat in Tatton, Cheshire was taken by the future chancellor, George Osborne.

Labour has remained the largest party but failed to secure an overall majority with just 29 out of 60 seats in Cardiff Bay.

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood ousted Labour AM Leighton Andrews in a shock result at the Rhondda.

Plaid won 12 seats overall, the Conservative 11 and the Liberal Democrats one.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said Labour would be approaching the remaining Lib Dem AM Kirsty Williams and Plaid Cymru about the possibility of a coalition government.