GETTY Batten (L) sent panicked messages to Ukip branches as former leader Henry Bolton started a new party

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Interim Ukip leader Gerard Batten has written to all local groups across the country to ask them divert any funds they have to the central party “purely for operational needs”. Ukip officials have since admitted they feel they will go bust if they don’t beg branches to raise £100,000 by the end of the month. Mr Batten warned: “If we cannot raise it then the future of the party itself is in question.” The potential bankruptcy comes as the party faces a six-figure costs claim in a legal battle with three Labour MPs.

The £670,000 charge came after Yorkshire and Humber MEP Jane Collins was successfully sued by Sarah Champion, Sir Kevin Barron and John Healey for libel and slander. She failed to pay them damages of £54,000 each. Ukip’s begging note says they “realise that this money belongs to the branches but the future of our party really is in the hands of the members at this time”. The plea takes place alongside the announcement of ousted Ukip leader Henry Bolton’s new political party, OneNation.

Protest outside Ukip conference as Henry Bolton elected Ukip leader Fri, September 29, 2017 Henry Bolton has been elected as the new Ukip leader Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 9 Protestors get angry during a demonstration against Dr Hugh Bronson Alternative fur Deutschland MEP

The disgraced ex-boss was booted out of his party last month after it was revealed he left his wife for Jo Marney, a model 30 years his junior who was later shown to have sent racist messages about Meghan Markle. Bolton said it would be a “professional political party that believes in Britain, that preserves our national identity, culture, heritage and confidence and talks our great nation up rather than down; a party dedicated to the full independence of the UK in all areas of law, government and public administration.” He has also chosen to switch campaign colours from Ukip’s purple to “British Racing Green”, which he claimed “represents British branding and excellence.” The Electoral Commission said they had not received any paperwork for a new party called OneNation.

GETTY Gerard Batten addressed members of the media at Ukip's by-election campaign headquarters in February