Ukip's only MP 'shouldn't be in the party' Nigel Farage says

Douglas Carswell has had public disagreements with Mr Farage in the past

Douglas Carswell, Clacton MP (Getty Images)

UKip’s only MP should be kicked out of the party, former leader Nigel Farage has said.

Mr Farage, who still leads the party’s group of MEPs in Brussels, said in an interview that Douglas Carswell “shouldn’t be in the party”.

He also poured more fuel onto the fire of infighting within Ukip, arguing that deputy chair Suzanne Evans had an “overinflated opinion of herself”.

He also said former leader Diane James’s decision to stand down after just days was “a selfish act”.

On Mr Carswell he told LBC Radio: “He shouldn't be in the party. He doesn't believe in what we stand for, he never has done

“Since the general election all he's done is sought to undermine us and divide us. And I notice even since Paul's become leader we've had some statement from Carswell saying that he thought Theresa May's doing a fantastic job.”

Mr Carswell defected from the Conservative to join Ukip. He has numerous policy differences with the party – taking a more liberal line on immigration than most others at the top of its ranks.

He previously described Mr Farage’s anti-immigration approach and rhetoric as “electoral disastrous” upon the MEP’s resignation as leader.

Paul Nuttall was elected as leader of Ukip earlier this year, replacing Mr Farage and Ms James.

Mr Farage stood down after the EU referendum result but was brought back in as an interim leader after Ms James declined to remain in post.