Mr Katter (pictured) said yesterday that Katter’s Australian Party was planning on running a candidate in each of the 150 federal seats ahead of the September 14 election.

“We will ensure we have a candidate in every electorate, but New England will certainly be a focus,” he said.

Mr Katter spent last Christmas in Armidale as his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter live in the city.

The Queensland MP said New England was an important seat to the Katter Party.

“I’m sure the people of New England can relate to some of our views and policies – especially compared to the National Party,” he said.

“I defy anyone to point out a single time where the National Party has made a stand on anything.”

Mr Katter said he had mixed views on New England incumbent Tony Windsor.

“Me and Tony used to have a very close relationship over the years and we did some good work early in the hung parliament, but he hasn’t been too friendly to me lately,” he said.

“Tony did most of the heavy lifting early in the hung parliament between the independents, so he deserves credit for that, but I disagree with him on a lot of things now.”

Mr Katter was in the New England headlines last year when he claimed that embattled politician Richard Torbay approached him to join the Katter Party prior to joining the Nationals.

Mr Torbay, who quit the Nationals and his Northern Tablelands seat last month, claimed that he was approached by Mr Katter, but the Member for Kennedy denied the claims.

“He has broken the integrity of that conversation,” he said at the time.

Mr Katter said that Mr Torbay had expressed an interest in joining his party during a conversation they were having about Mr Windsor voting with the government on a live cattle bill.