Want to keep up to date on Welsh politics? Sign up and get political news sent straight to your inbox Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Neil Hamilton is planning to back a post-referendum leadership challenge to Nigel Farage, according to Ukip sources.

The leader of the National Assembly’s Ukip group is said to be backing the party’s deputy leader Paul Nuttall for the top job.

Mr Nuttall, an MEP who represents the North West of England and who comes from Liverpool, came to Wales to campaign for Mr Hamilton during the Assembly election.

Mr Farage and Mr Hamilton have been at loggerheads for a number of years.

Until his election to the Assembly as regional AM for Mid and West Wales, Mr Hamilton was a member of Ukip’s powerful national executive committee.

(Image: Rob Browne)

A Ukip source said: “Neil was very influential on the NEC. Because of his appearances on reality TV programmes and chat shows, a lot of people forget that he is a very wily political operator with many years experience dating back to his time at university in Aberystwyth. He was an MP for 14 years and a government minister.

Who is Neil Hamilton and why is everyone so worked up about him?

“Nigel has previously blocked attempts by Neil to become an MEP and an MP. He thinks that Neil’s past baggage stemming from the ‘cash for questions’ affair is not good for the party.

“But when on the NEC, Neil was able to ensure that Nigel didn’t get his own way about candidate selection for the Welsh Assembly.

“He was determined not to miss out again, and ensured that Nigel’s original list of hand-picked candidates was rejected. Nigel had to agree to a one-member, one-vote ballot, and Neil was able to impress enough Ukip members in Wales to get selection.”

The source said elected politicians could not sit on the NEC, so because he wanted to make some points at an NEC meeting, Mr Hamilton had delayed being sworn in as an AM until the Tuesday after the May 5 election.

Now, the source said, Mr Hamilton is waiting to back Mr Nuttall in a leadership battle that will commence shortly after the referendum result.

Neil Hamilton flunks Welsh general knowledge test live on radio

Another Ukip source said: “Everything Ukip has achieved has been down to Nigel Farage. Nobody else has his charisma and if he is forced out of the leadership, the party’s fortunes will quickly decline.

“In the wake of the 2015 general election, when Ukip retained just one seat at Westminster, Mr Farage resigned as leader, but was persuaded to come back. In the period of uncertainty, Mr Hamilton praised Mr Nuttall as an “authentic, northern working-class voice.”

He told LBC Radio: “Paul Nuttall is the deputy leader, he is an authentic scouser. Anybody who’s seen him on Question Time or heard him on the radio knows that here is the authentic voice of the working class, northern, support base.”

At the time, though, Mr Hamilton did not openly attack Mr Farage, telling LBC: “Nigel is the leader and will continue to be the leader. But as and when a vacancy arises, there will be no shortage of contenders.”

Early last year, before the general election, Mr Nuttall told the Labour-supporting New Statesman magazine: “Could I lead Ukip? Yeah I think I could lead Ukip and I think I could lead Ukip well.”

Neil Hamilton says ethnic minority 'slur' candidate Gareth Bennett is 'a nice chap'

In many ways, the antithesis of Mr Farage, Mr Nuttall was educated in a comprehensive school and is from a working-class family of Labour supporters in Bootle, a dockyard town near Liverpool. He has been Ukip’s deputy leader since 2010.

“I wouldn’t be anyone else’s deputy, put it that way,” he told the New Statesman.

“I had the chance of leading Ukip twice before – I was too young and that’s one of the reasons why I backed away. But I’m pretty experienced now. In terms of frontline politics, I think there’s only Nigel who’s got more experience in Ukip than me.”

If Ukip sources are correct, Mr Nuttall has concluded the time is now ripe to try for the top job. With his new power base as leader of the party’s group in the Assembly, Mr Hamilton could prove a useful ally.

One figure whose support Mr Nuttall could not count on is Nathan Gill, Ukip’s leader in Wales, MEP and since, May 5, a North Wales AM.

Neil Hamilton 'might be too old for frontline politics' warns Nigel Farage

Having expected to be elected leader of the Assembly’s seven-strong group, he was defeated four-three by Mr Hamilton.

He will be on Mr Farage’s side in any impending battle.

Mr Hamilton did not respond to a message we left for him.