Last night The Mail on Sunday reported

Nigel Farage faced claims of a â€˜cover-upâ€™ last night for censoring a poll that suggests he is on course for a humiliating personal defeat in the General Election.

The secret Ukip-commissioned poll, leaked to The Mail on Sunday, shows that Farage has fallen behind his Tory opponent in the Kent seat he is contesting. And he is in danger of finishing third, with Labour catching up fast.Â

If the poll is accurate, it could end Farageâ€™s political career as he has vowed to resign as Ukip leader if he fails to win South Thanet. The ComRes poll was commissioned last month by multimillionaire businessman and former Tory Arron Banks, who defected to Ukip last year and gave the party Â£1million.

Ukip hoped the Thanet poll would echo an earlier one showing Farage heading for a famous victory, and they planned to use it to whip up more support.

But when the result came through, Farage had a shock.

It showed Conservative candidate Craig Mackinlay, a former Ukip activist, on 30 points, one ahead of Farage, with Labour only one behind.

Farage was so alarmed he gave orders for the findings to be hushed up to avoid causing panic in Ukip ranks â€“ and encouraging his rivals.