Ukip's biggest donor has pledged a further £1.5 million to Nigel Farage's party as it looks to target 100 seats at next year's general election.

Businessman Paul Sykes, whose wealth was estimated at £650 million in 2004, has indicated that he will hand over the sum to fund the growth of the party's power in Parliament.

Nigel Farage had suggested that Ukip would target its resources on a few dozen constituencies that they could potentially win, while Mr Sykes has his sights set on around 100 seats.

Mr Sykes, a former Tory supporter who started his fortune in dealing scrap engines, told the Sunday Times: "You're going to be able to see this campaign from the moon.

"Ukip is not going to lose the campaign because we don't have enough adverts."

Nearly a third of the public would vote for the eurosceptic right-wing party headed by Nigel Farage if they believed it would win in their area, a poll by Opinium with The Observer found.

Another recent poll found the party is on track for victory in the Rochester & Strood by-election on 20 November, triggered by the defection of Mark Reckless from the Conservative party.

Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Show all 8 1 /8 Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Chris Kelly Won Dudley South with majority of 3,856 in 2010 but is standing down next May. Has been wooed by Ukip, which is targeting his seat, but insists he will not join Nigel Farage’s party. Has declined to say why he is leaving Parliament Facebook Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Mark Pritchard Former secretary of the influential Tory 1992 Committee. MP for The Wrekin. Majority 9,450. Photographed with Nigel Farage at an event recently but said it was just a “friendly photo" Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Philip Hollobone MP for Kettering. Majority 9, 904. He said in 2013: “So many constituencies are now marginal because Ukip is now providing a fourth dynamic into what has previously been a three-party dynamic. I think we could end up with a situation where in selected seats, where the Conservative candidate or member of Parliament is in favour of leaving the EU, they would endorse him in those seats" Rex Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip David Nuttall MP for Bury North. Majority 2,243. Outspoken right-winger. Has said it would be “beneficial” if the Tories and Ukip could agree a “common programme” in order to unite the right in British politics Twitter Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Nadine Dorries MP for Mid Bedfordshire. Majority 15,152. Lost Tory whip after appearing on ITV’s “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here,” but later reinstated. Has said her constituents some constituents feel a "huge amount of empathy with Ukip". Hinted at standing on a joint ticket but denied she will defect PA Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Jacob Rees-Mogg MP for Somerset North East. Majority 4,914. Independent-minded like Douglas Carswell. Has called for an electoral pact between Tories and Ukip. “There are many members of Ukip who are very close to the Conservative Party and there are many Conservatives to whom Ukip looks favourably,” he said in May David Hedges Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Gordon Henderson MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey. Majority 12,383. Wants Britain to leave the EU and admits he has been “sounded out” by Ukip. But insists the party has “no principles,” saying: “I’d sooner lose than be a turncoat” Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Peter Bone MP for Wellingborough. Majority 11,787. Independent-minded backbencher who hates the Coalition. Has said: “Somehow the Conservatives and Ukip have got to work together and have some sort of [electoral] pact or accord” UPPA/Photoshot

Douglas Carswell, Mr Reckless' fellow defector, retained his seat in Clacton earlier this month and became the first Ukip MP in parliament.

Mr Sykes believes Ukip gaining 24 out of the UK's 73 seats in European Parliament last May is a sign of future success in Westminster.

David Cameron has attempted to tackle the Ukip threat by promising to crack down on immigration by negotiating reforms to the free movement of workers in the European Union.

But former Home Office minister Damian Green warned the Tories would hemorrhage voters in other parts of the political spectrum if they turned themselves into "Ukip-lite".

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "Whatever happens my advice would be the same: that it would be a complete disaster for the Tory party to become Ukip-lite or to do a pact with Ukip."

The economy, education and lower levels of recorded crime should be the topics the Tories should focus on, added Mr Green.