Arron Banks says he has been kicked out of Ukip for saying leader Paul Nuttall ‘couldn’t knock the skin off a rice pudding’

ARRON Banks claims he has been kicked out of Ukip after the party’s biggest donor claimed leader Paul Nuttall “couldn't knock the skin off a rice pudding”.

The insurance tycoon has long been critical of those in charge since his ally Nigel Farage quit, and he has been threatening to start his own party instead.

This now seems much more likely after he tweeted this morning: “Understand my Ukip membership has been suspended. Interesting times lie ahead ...”

But there was confusion over his claim, as a Ukip spokesman said the millionaire businessman's membership had lapsed earlier this year after he failed to renew it.

However he is adamant he was suspended, after he declined an invitation to appear in front of the party’s ruling National Executive Committee about his recent comments.

Mr Banks put out a statement saying: "Ukip has somehow managed to allow my membership to lapse this year despite having given considerably more than the annual membership fee over the past 12 months.

"On reapplying I was told my membership was suspended pending my appearance at a NEC meeting.

"Apparently, my comments about the party being run like a squash club committee and Mr Carswell have not gone down well.

"I now realise I was being unfair to squash clubs all over the UK and I apologise to them. "

Mr Banks, who poured millions into the Leave.EU campaign in last year's Brexit referendum, has attacked Ukip’s leadership and likened them to “a jumble sale”.

As well as speaking about founding a new political movement to "drain the swamp" of Westminster politics, he has threatened to take over as party chairman.

But after today's incident he said: "We will now be concentrating on our new movement."

After being asked why his membership was revoked he tweeted: “Apparently for saying current leadership couldn't knock the skin off a rice pudding!”

And the man who gave £1million to Ukip ahead of the last general election has been involved in a highly embarrassing public spat with the party’s only MP Douglas Carswell.

Mr Banks has suggested he could stand against him after using a recall petition to trigger a by-election in his Clacton constituency.

The row was sparked by claims Mr Carswell helped the Tories to defeat Mr Farage when he stood in South Thanet in 2015, and that he blocked the former leader’s chances of a knighthood – both charges he vigorously denies.

Mr Carswell tweeted just three minutes after Mr Banks’ announcement, saying: “I'm on top of the world...”

After it was suggested this was aimed at his rival he added: “To clarify: I'm on top of the world because Article 50 Bill just got Royal Assent, becoming law.

“And because I'm a cheery person. Nothing else.”