Nigel Farage says he will write to everyone in Clacton and force Douglas Carswell into a by-election after Ukip’s sole MP quits
Former leader said Ukip's role in British politics is ‘not over by a long shot’ despite the MP’s resignation insisting it was ‘job done’ now Theresa May is triggering Article 50
NIGEL Farage says he will try and force Douglas Carswell into holding a by-election after Ukip’s only MP sensationally quit the party yesterday.
The former leader is using a pledge Mr Carswell previously made to get him to call for a fresh ballot – despite him insisting he doesn’t need to hold one.
The MP, who has been a strong advocate of giving constituents the power to recall their representatives, said if 20% of them wanted a by-election then one should be called.
But Mr Carswell is resisting current calls for one, arguing that because he has not re-joined the Tories or switched allegiances to another party.
Mr Farage is going write to every resident in Clacton to ask them if they want to have another vote, adding “then we’ll find out who the real Douglas Carswell is”.
He also told Sky News's Sophy Ridge on Sunday that Ukip's role in British politics is “not over by a long shot” despite Mr Carswell leaving because in his words it was ‘job done’ now Theresa May is set to trigger Article 50.
His resignation prompted Labour and the Liberal Democrats to declare that Ukip now has no purpose and no future.
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But Mr Farage said "the point about Ukip is what terms we leave the European Union under" and claimed it had already forced concessions on the Government.
He also pointed to reports ministers are considering allowing EU nationals to continue to receive child benefits for families back home post-Brexit as one example of something Ukip will oppose.
Mr Farage added: "Winning a war is very, very important but also you have to win the peace, the peace is far from won.
"Already I can see with this Government concessions being made over fishing, the desire of the Prime Minister to stay part of the European Arrest Warrant. This is not over by a long shot.
"With no MPs we forced a referendum in this country. In many ways, outside Parliament Ukip's achievement has been astonishing."
Elsewhere Mr Carswell told ITV's Peston On Sunday he is not "planning" on fighting the next election as a Conservative - though refused to rule it out categorically.
He said he wanted to "support" the government as a "critical friend" in his role as an independent in the House of Commons.
The MP also denied he jumped before he pushed by Ukip, after confirming the party's national executive was meeting on Monday to examine if he played a role in blocking a knighthood for Mr Farage.