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Ukip's only MP has put on a public show of unity with his leader to herald a new era after epic fights with Nigel Farage.

Clacton MP Douglas Carswell was introduced on the Ukip conference stage by Diane James in a bid to end divisions which have riven the party.

He stopped short of saying Ms James, who was made leader with 47% of the vote yesterday, was the best candidate but said he backed her "110%".

He added: "The membership has now spoken and made a clear choice. We must now all rally behind Diane."

Ms James said it was an "absolute pleasure" to introduce the "courageous" MP adding: "I'm not interested in what has gone on beforehand".

But not everyone was convinced. One senior Ukip figure muttered: "He's an irrelevance".

(Image: PA)

Yesterday Ms James told journalists she had not spoken to Mr Carswell for two months. She resisted calls for an immediate meeting with him, saying it should wait a few days.

Today that changed as the pair shook hands outside the venue in Bournemouth before walking into a private room.

Mr Carswell and Nigel Farage have had a falling out worthy of TV hit House of Cards in the two years since he defected from the Tories.

The outgoing leader has repeatedly accused Mr Carswell of trying to split the party and last year donor Arron Banks branded him "borderline autistic with mental illness wrapped in".

Mr Farage used his new LBC show today to accuse the MP of "sniping from the sidelines" and said his actions had given the "impression of division".

(Image: PA)

Meanwhile another Ukip battle went on today as Nathan Gill and a coffee break replaced a planned speech by Ukip Welsh Assembly leader Neil Hamilton.

Flamboyant ex-Tory Mr Hamilton hit out when the new leader axed his big moment.

In his replacement speech Mr Gill, who held the top Welsh job until Mr Hamilton came along, got a standing ovation as he said he had given his all to the party.

"Many of you are aware of a little bit of turmoil that's been going on in the principality, to say the least", he added.

His speech to a half-empty hall was interrupted by a tannoy asking for someone called John to phone the office.