What is going on with Ukip? Brexit was supposed to be the celebratory chapter in the history of the party. Instead an outbreak of infighting could tear it apart.

On one level this is about who should replace Nigel Farage, which is a story of incompetence and bitter recriminations. First, in early July the party ruled that only those who had been a member for at least five years could stand for the leadership, effectively barring prominent figures like Suzanne Evans, a Farage critic, from standing. Then, Steven Woolfe, the party’s MEP for North West England, and the man who talks the loudest about attacking Labour, was the favoured successor. But after filing his nomination forms 17 minutes late, Woolfe, the strong favourite among Ukip members, was also barred by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

A meltdown ensued. Three NEC members resigned in disgust at the actions of their fellow members and countless activists turned to social media to voice their belief that a coup was underway led by the ex-Conservatives Neil Hamilton, Douglas Carswell and Evans.