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One of the Tories most influential backbenchers threatened to quit the party today if David Cameron did a deal with Ukip.

Charles Walker, vice-chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 committee who has won awards for his speeches in Parliament, made the announcement when quizzed about post-election coalitions.

Speaking on the BBC’s Daily Politics programme, the Broxbourne MP was clear in his position on sitting on the Commons green benches with representatives from Nigel Farage’s party.

He said: "I wouldn't sit in an alliance with Ukip so whatever Ukip MP we gained I'd be off.

"I'm not sitting in an alliance with Ukip as a Conservative MP, I'd rather sit as an independent Conservative MP than sit alongside Ukip."

Mr Farage has ruled out entering a formal coalition with the Conservatives in the event of a hung parliament, but has indicated supporting them on case-by-case basis - known as confidence and supply.

He has also previously claimed he would “do a deal with the Devil” to get a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union - something Mr Cameron has promised to deliver if he is returned as Prime Minister in May.

Ukip currently have two MPs, Douglas Carswell in Clacton and Mark Reckless in Rochester and Strood, both of whom defected from the Tories and won subsequent by-elections.

Despite opinion polls showing the anti-EU party is enjoying support of around 15% of the electorate, the UK’s first-past-the-post electoral system means Ukip is unlikely to win more than a handful of seats in May.

However, if a predicted Labour collapse in Scotland takes place - and the SNP win the vast majority of the 59 seats north of the border - the Tories may seek to form a grand coalition with Ukip and the DUP.