Believe you me, none of these people has seen anything. I’ve had this abuse every day of my life for years. Whenever I attend a public event or drop into the local pub, the threat of violence is never far away.

Yes, I accept that politics is a rough, tough old game. But to have lived through year after year of hatred, stirred up by a media doing everything they could to stop me and Ukip progressing has had a wearing effect. To walk back willingly into a life like that is not something I want to do unless I have to. To some extent, the hatred that was around last summer does seem to have eased by not leading the party and I’ve have had the chance to do other things – such as a daily radio show and frequent trips to the US. Professionally, my life is settled and I intend to keep it that way.

None of this is meant to be negative about Ukip, its people or achievements. In many ways, it has been the most successful political movement of our times. But it is in need of real change. It must sort out its internal structures and continue to be a radical voice for change that stands up for ordinary people. However, if it does not sort itself out and make the changes necessary to become a professional, modern political party, and if then we find ourselves with a Brexit that falls short of the mark, another vehicle will then come along to replace it.