Ukip considered rebranding itself as the 'Patriotic Alliance' during election

The UK Independent Party considered rebranding itself as 'The Patriotic Alliance' in a bid to become electorally relevant again after Brexit, The Telegraph can disclose.

The Eurosceptic party lodged a formal application during the election campaign on May 11 by formally applying to the electoral watchdog to register the description the “Patriotic Alliance”.

The application was described as applying to Ukip for “all of Great Britain”.

It would have allowed the party to use the name on ballot papers. Parties are legally allowed to use either a party name or a description alongside a candidate’s name on ballot papers.

The application was rejected last month on the grounds that it “does not meet the requirements of a description”, the Electoral Commission said.

The news was a surprise for former Ukip donor Arron Banks who unveiled his own plans in March to launch his own party called the Patriotic Alliance.

He said then that the "alliance aims to not only burst the Westminster bubble, but drain the swamp too. 

"We have an ambitious plan to assist independent candidates to win seats in Parliament from the most corrupt and negligent MPs.”

Mr Banks told The Telegraph this weekend that he will launch his new political movement in the next few months but only regarded the Patriotic Alliance as a working title.

He said that Ukip's actions had been "desperate" and said Ukip needed "a change of attitude and a change of policies".

A Ukip spokesman said that the application had been made by former leader Paul Nuttall, who quit after the party’s dismal showing in the June 8 poll.

He said that the possible new branding was having “another arrow in the sheaf” and was not necessarily going to happen.

The spokesman added: “At the time Paul was talking about rebrands. There was no point having an option on the table if someone else had taken the name. 

“The name was registered as an insurance policy. Is it likely to change its name to that? No. The chances are slim to nil.

“Name changes – lots of people would like to do them and then they are presented with the bill and then they say ‘maybe we don’t want to do so’.”

Ukip said on Friday said that 11 candidates will stand for Ukip leader. The winner will be announced at the party's annual conference next month.