Never a fan of the halls of the European Parliament, Nigel Farage will certainly be looking for as early an EU referendum as possible after his latest interaction with his fellow MEPs.

MEPs could not help but openly mock the Ukip leader on his return to Strasbourg, having failed in his bid to win in South Thanet at the general election and having "un-resigned" as leader of his party.

Thus, beaten, bruised and having had to quell a Ukip coup against him, Farage returned to the daily grind of the European Parliament where he has been an MEP for South East England since 1999.

German MEP Manfred Weber said: "I would like to welcome Mr Farage - the big election loser. He said he would stand down, he would resign, he wouldn't continue in that post.

"You didn't keep your electoral promise Mr Farage! You've broken a very important promise."

Belgium's Guy Verhofstadt chimed in: "Nigel Farage has sent a letter to Nigel Farage saying 'I resign'. And Nigel Farage has responded to Nigel Farage saying 'I refuse'. That’s the way it works there!"

The Ukip leader promised to resign his position if he lost in South Thanet, and did so after he lost out to Conservative Craig Mackinlay, a former Ukip member. However, he remains leader after party officials said he still had strong backing from party members.

Not one to let someone get the better of him, Mr Farage responded: "I do detect in some of the smiles and laughter that's been directed at me, a slight hint at nervousness, and so there jolly well should be, because there is going to be a British referendum on whether we stay in or whether we leave this European Union."