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Nigel Farage has sensationally quit UKIP in protest at the party’s links to far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

The former UKIP leader and co-founder blasted his successor Gerard Batten’s “obsession” with the convicted criminal and English Defence League founder, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

Mr Batten has come under fire for his association with Robinson - including making the EDL founder an adviser on grooming gangs and prisons, triggering fury among UKIP moderates.

Announcing his decision to quit, Farage said: "Mr Batten’s obsession with Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (to use Tommy Robinson’s real name) and fixation with the issue of Islam makes Ukip unrecognisable to many of us.

"While Robinson may hold an appeal to some members of society who feel they are disenfranchised, I believe he is entirely unsuitable to be involved in any political party.

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"The fact is that his entourage includes violent criminals and ex-BNP members. Many Ukip members - including Ukip’s NEC – urged that Robinson should not become an advisor to Batten. Sadly, these pleas fell on deaf ears."

Senior officials Patrick O’Flynn and Suzanne Evans have resigned in the past week - and today Mr Farage joined them in walking away.

Writing in The Telegraph, Farage referenced a picture of Tommy Robinson attending a UKIP planning meeting for a march and rally due to take place on Sunday.

Robinson can be seen sitting next to convicted armed kidnapper Daniel Thompson and 'other pretty unsavoury looking characters'.

Farage said: "These are the people organising the ‘Brexit’ march that is now advertised on the Ukip website. My heart sinks as I reflect on the idea that they may be seen by some as representative of the cause for which I have campaigned for so much of my adult life."

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He added that 'with a heavy heart' he is leaving the party as "the very idea of Tommy Robinson being at the centre of the Brexit debate is too awful to contemplate".

"There is a huge space for a Brexit party in British politics, but it won't be filled by Ukip."

Mr Farage insisted Ukip had been successful in the past because it had a policy of "excluding extremists".

The ex-leader said Ukip was becoming a party of "street activism".

Mr Farage said: "Under my leadership of Ukip, the party banned former members of the BNP and EDL from joining.

"Many accusations of racism and extremism were thrown at us, but I strongly maintain they were untrue.

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"Under Gerard Batten's leadership, however, the party's direction has changed fundamentally.

"Analysis of weekly local council by-elections up and down the country shows that Ukip now fields very few candidates.

"The party of elections is quickly becoming a party of street activism, with our members being urged to attend marches rather than taking the fight to the ballot box."

Mr Batten tweeted: "I hear that Nigel Farage has resigned from UKIP. Nigel & I were founder members of UKIP in 1993. I have always given him full credit for his work in UKIP bringing about and winning the Referendum. However, I feel that he left UKIP in spirit after the Referendum."

His decision to quit comes after Batten survived a vote of no confidence by the party's ruling national executive on Monday.

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On Sunday, Ukip said the NEC had voted "overwhelmingly" against a motion of no confidence.

But a statement also said that the party "does not endorse the appointment of Tommy Robinson in any advisory role".

It added: "He is not a Ukip member and through his associations he is barred from joining Ukip."

Mr Batten previously defended his decision to give Mr Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, a role advising him on rape gangs and prison reform, describing the English Defence League founder as "courageous".

He denied moving Ukip to the extremes or opening its doors to racists, and told the BBC Mr Robinson would help him turn the party into a "mass movement... a party for ordinary people".

Mr Robinson is expected to feature prominently in the Brexit march on Sunday two days before the Commons votes on the UK's EU withdrawal deal.