Farage Targets UKIP 'Agitator For Change'

Nigel Farage has said the backing for him within UKIP is "astonishing" - and suggested just one person in the party was "agitating" for a leadership election.

The leader has faced a barrage of speculation over his future as some in the party suggested it needed a new face at the top.

But Mr Farage said all but one of UKIP's key figures had offered him their backing.

"It's massive, it's extraordinary," he said.

"Every single one of our major donors came out publicly in support of me yesterday, the national executive is united, the leader of our group in the House of Lords, the leader of our MEPs, the Scottish committee, the Welsh committee, the East of England committee.

"I mean, I've never had support like it. There is one senior figure in UKIP briefing every single day, consistently, and he's now moved on to 'there must be a leadership election'.

"That individual must make his mind up whether his future is with UKIP or not. What is clear is that the sheer level of support for me within UKIP ... frankly, it's astonishing.

"To read the ludicrous headlines in some of today's newspapers makes you realise that this is a Conservative attempt to try and destabilise UKIP.

"There is one person in UKIP agitating for a change and for a leadership election. He hasn't had the courage to break cover but he must make his mind up: Is his future with UKIP?"

Sky News Political Reporter Darren McCaffrey said he understood the senior figure Mr Farage was referring to was the party's one MP, Douglas Carswell.

"It was notable that he wasn't mentioned by name by Farage," he said.

"Carswell has been conspicuously quiet in recent days, but it is known he was against the decision not to hold a leadership contest."

It comes after Mr Farage brushed aside the bitter infighting which has engulfed his party, describing the row as "people letting off steam" after the General Election.

Mr Farage also dismissed claims there should be a fresh leadership contest in his party, warning it would be a "massive, massive mistake".

He added that a contest for the leadership would distract the party's senior politicians from the looming in-out referendum on the European Union.

Despite growing calls for him to step down - including from high-profile UKIP donor, Stuart Wheeler - Mr Farage told BBC Question Time: "We can't afford as a party that wants Britain to be free to waste three or four months of our time having a leadership contest where, frankly, we know the answer already."

The MEP also hinted that he regretted saying he would resign as leader if he lost Thanet South, adding: "Now would have been, in retrospect, the wrong time to go."

His fight back came after Patrick O'Flynn, the MEP who was UKIP's campaign chief during the election, described Mr Farage as a "snarling, thick-skinned and aggressive man" who was being advised by "wrong uns" who were "inexperienced" .

The outburst was believed to have been directed at Mr Farage's top adviser, Raheem Kassam, who has since left his post as chief of staff. Party secretary Matthew Richardson has also offered his resignation.

Sky's Darren McCaffrey later confirmed that Mr Kassam had "essentially been sacked".

But in an exclusive interview with Sky News, Mr Kassam said his contract was nearing expiry anyway, and "any aspersions that I've been fired are incorrect".

The apparent civil war within UKIP then further intensified when he called on Mr O'Flynn to consider his position, following his "utterly unprofessional" remarks.

He added: "You cannot go to a national newspaper and air internal party grievances as an elected representative of the party.

"I think Patrick should take some time out - I know he has some issues he has to deal with, I feel for him."

Even though Mr O'Flynn claimed Mr Farage was transforming UKIP into a "personality cult", he later told Sky News: "If anyone thinks I am planning some kind of coup against Nigel, they could not be more wrong. He is my political hero and will remain so."