Former UKIP leadership favourite Steven Woolfe has suggested there was a deliberate attempt to smear him and block him from the top job.

He told Sky News he believed it was a breach of data protection and possibly a criminal act.

Mr Woolfe was barred from standing because his application on Sunday night was 17 minutes late.

It emerged earlier this week that he had failed to declare a drink-driving conviction when he stood for a police and crime commissioner role.

He told Sky there had been an "extraordinary amount of briefing from personal and private documentation that only could have been on UKIP servers".


"The idea that I wasn't a member was used by information that was on UKIP's financial database and used by somebody who had access to that," he said.

Hamilton: 'A Cock-Up, Not A Coup'

"The information on my drink-driving conviction, which I had informed the party about, could only have come from someone with access to that.

"They're clear breaches of data protection, possibly even criminal breaches under the unspent convictions."

Mr Woolfe also said the party had a problem with infighting and people trying to "damage others".

"You cannot present a party where we're constantly infighting, constantly trying to put more knives into the backs of people who are working really hard," he said.

Tonight decision to exclude a Woolfe is the final straw - it's effectively a Hamilton / Carswell coup. https://t.co/l65HG8MN6W — Arron Banks (@Arron_banks) August 2, 2016

Three members of UKIP's ruling body resigned after Mr Woolfe was barred from standing because of his late application, sparking a civil war within the party and claims of a coup.

Mr Woolfe said his delayed application was due to problems with UKIP's computer systems.

"Our systems failed - even on that day. I started a process an hour and 10 minutes before - it took 30 minutes to get some money across ... I'm on the phone with a senior member of the team saying - before the deadline - 'I'm pressing the button, nothing's happening, what's going on down your end. Can I not transfer it a different way, by scanning?'"

The party's National Executive Committee has said the UKIP immigration spokesman is "ineligible" to run after the late application.

:: UKIP's Woolfe Fails To Declare Conviction

Image: We take a look at the runners and riders to replace Nigel Farage at the top of UKIP. Image: Former amateur wrestler Phillip Broughton describes himself as a working class Northerner, and wants an Australian-style immigration system, lower taxes an Image: Cambridgeshire councillor and former party director Lisa Duffy wants to ban Muslim schools and end what she thinks is the abuse of the NHS by foreigners. A Image: Lawyer and feminist Elizabeth Jones is an MEP candidate for South London. She got into trouble for telling a Socialist Party adversary to 'shut up' on a ra Image: West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge was originally a Tory Party member but resigned after posing with golliwogs on Facebook. He has also been criticised for p Image: Diane James, MEP for South East England and deputy party chairman, is well-respected in the party and has emerged as the favourite. She has been in trouble /

Bu the trio who resigned have accused the NEC of "escalating meglomania".

A statement signed by MEPs Victoria Ayling, Michael McGough and Raymond Finch said: "It has now reached the stage where the party's national executive has essentially usurped full governance of the party and is collectively in pursuit of oligarchy, self-promotion and cronyism."

Ms Ayling has accused its only MP, Douglas Carswell, and Neil Hamilton, a Welsh Assembly member, of attempting a "coup".

UKIP's main donor, Arron Banks, who backs Mr Woolfe, has also threatened to split the party.

He told Sky News: "Things (have) gone too far. Maybe the UKIP race has had its run. It's possible it's time to have another sensible party to take on Labour."

Mr Hamilton, however, rejected claims of a coup, telling Sky that Mr Woolfe was to blame for his own "cock-up".

Some talk of making @UKIP more 'professional'. I want the next leader to make it so we can win seats locally and in Westminter #WinningisKey — Diane James (@DianeJamesMEP) August 1, 2016

Meanwhile, former leader Nigel Farage, who backs Mr Woolfe, has been sniping from the sidelines, branding NEC members "total amateurs".

The candidates who will go forward for the leadership race are MEPs Bill Etheridge, Diane James and Jonathan Arnott.

Also running will be Lisa Duffy, Phillip Broughton and Elizabeth Jones.

Ms James has emerged as the favourite and has tweeted about broadening the party's appeal to win elections.

While one of the party's most respected MEPs, she is not without tarnish, having had to apologise after claiming migration from Romania was a problem because of the "crime associated with Romanians".

The architect of UKIP's general election manifesto Suzanne Evans is backing the relatively unknown Cambridgeshire councillor and former party director, Ms Duffy.

A former TK Maxx store manager, she has talked about banning Muslim schools and clamping down on the use of the NHS by foreigners.

UKIP Frontrunner Defends Muslims Schools Policy

She told Sky News: "I really am the person to take this party on ... I have a track record of leading teams, a track record of being firm and fair in terms of discipline within the party."

Ms Duffy denied UKIP was in meltdown and urged Mr Banks to have a "conversation" with her and other candidates about the party's future.