Ukip's only MP reportedly held secret talks about rejoining the Tory Party to fight the 2020 general election after former leader Nigel Farage called for him to be thrown out of its ranks.

Douglas Carswell spoke to Conservative MPs to suss out whether he would be welcomed back by his old party, from which he defected in 2014, The Daily Telegraph reports.

However, Mr Carswell said he was happy to continue to represent Ukip in the Commons after an "amicable" meeting with party chairman Paul Oakden.

He told the Press Association: "Contrary to a lot of speculation, we had a very polite and amicable meeting. I think he has done a wonderful job as party chairman."

Key Faces of UKIP Show all 11 1 /11 Key Faces of UKIP Key Faces of UKIP Nigel Farage Getty Key Faces of UKIP United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) Migration spokesman Steven Woolfe addresses supporters and media personnel in central London Getty Key Faces of UKIP Robert Kilroy-Silk, former television presenter and newly elected member of the European Parliament for the UK Independence Party (UKIP), shows a placard against the European Constitution in front of the Houses of Parliament Getty Key Faces of UKIP Mark Reckless, Director of Policy Development addresses party members during the UK Independence Party annual conference at Doncaster Racecourse Getty Key Faces of UKIP Gerard Batten MEP poses with protesters outside parliament Creative Commons Key Faces of UKIP Diane James gives an address at the UKIP Autumn Conference in Bournemouth Getty Key Faces of UKIP Douglas Carswell MP speaks to party members and supporters during the UK Independence Party annual conference Getty Key Faces of UKIP Suzanne Evans, Deputy Party Chairman of UK Independence Party (UKIP) speaks during the launch of UKIP's election manifesto Getty Key Faces of UKIP Peter Whittle, the UK Independence Party Member of the London Assembly, is interviewed in central London Getty Key Faces of UKIP MEP Mike Hookem during a visit to Concept Metal Products & Co Ltd Getty Key Faces of UKIP Paul Nuttall, Deputy Leader of the UK Independence Party speaks at a Say NO, Believe in Britain debate at Carn Brea Leisure Centre in Pool near Redruthon Getty

The Eurosceptic party was plunged into fresh chaos after Mr Farage called for the MP to be ousted for trying to damage Ukip.

Leader Paul Nuttall then asked Mr Oakden to meet the Clacton MP for talks.

Mr Farage, who has been engaged in a long-running feud with Mr Carswell, said the party had come close to expelling the MP before.

Speaking after a Brexit event in central London, he said: "It's not just me. A lot of people have been saying it and saying it for a very long time.

"We nearly got rid of him back in 2015 when he sabotaged all my efforts at the European summit.

"We didn't quite have the nerve to do it. I suspect now the party will."

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Asked if Mr Carswell would be gone by the end of the day, Mr Farage replied: "I'm not involved. It's up to them. I'm retired."

Major Ukip donor Arron Banks has threatened to stand against Mr Carswell in the 2020 general election.

But Mr Farage said the comments should not be taken "too seriously".

However, a later tweet suggested that Mr Banks was taking his challenge to Mr Carswell seriously and making practical arrangements to prepare an election campaign.

"We will have a high street shop in Clacton, professional agent appointed soon and I will be rolling my sleeves up," said Mr Banks.

Ukip MEP and former leadership candidate Bill Etheridge told the BBC: "The truth is it's not a party at war, it's one man - maybe with two or three acolytes - who has gone out of his way to subvert and undermine the leadership, the principles of the party and everything we stand for.