Millionaire Brexit backer Arron Banks has had his application to join the Conservative Party accepted by a local association, the Mail can reveal.

Mr Banks, who bankrolled Leave.EU, and his business partner Andy Wigmore, applied to join the North West Leicestershire association of Tory MP Andrew Bridgen.

He has also booked a table for a fundraising event in two weeks, which makes him a party donor.

Millionaire Brexit backer Arron Banks (pictured) has had his application to join the Conservative Party accepted by a local association, the Mail can reveal

Mr Banks, a former Ukip donor and close ally of Nigel Farage, has urged Brexit supporters to join the Conservatives to try to influence the direction of Brexit and any future leadership contest. But this has sparked accusations of 'entryism' from Remain-supporting MPs.

Last night Mr Bridgen, a prominent Brexiteer, said he welcomed them joining the Conservatives and said their applications had been accepted by his association chairman.

Addressing criticism of the move, he added: 'Are we saying that people who have been in other parties cannot join the Tories? Because that rules out members of the Cabinet.

'If no-one ever defects from one party to another we would never expand our support or take any new seats. Everybody and anybody who isn't a socialist, Marxist or Communist should be a member of the Conservative Party because the biggest threat to our country is not Brexit or leaving without a deal, it's Jeremy Corbyn.'

He pointed out that Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, Business Secretary Greg Clarke and former minister Anna Soubry were all members of the defunct SDP.

Mr Banks and Mr Wigmore tried to join the party last month through a central application process, but were rejected by the party HQ.

The new application is more difficult for Tory chairman Brandon Lewis, because powers over membership are largely devolved to associations.

A Conservative spokesman: 'Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore's applications for membership of the Conservative Party have not been accepted.'