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A new Brexit party backed by Nigel Farage got the go-ahead today after it was registered with the Electoral Commission.

The group, called The Brexit Party, could attract Conservative activists disillusioned with Theresa May ’s handling of EU withdrawal.

It could be thrust into the spotlight if EU departure is delayed from its scheduled date of March 29, with ex-UKIP leader Mr Farage likely to seek a return to frontline politics.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, the seven-time general election seat loser claimed "a significant amount of money has been pledged to the Brexit Party if it is forced to take part in an election".

"The engine is running," he said. "In defence of democracy, we stand ready for battle."

(Image: PA)

Blasting UKIP's internal politics he said: "This will be a disciplined machine and will run more like a company.

"Dissenters can go elsewhere.

"If Mrs May and Jeremy Corbyn do not welcome the prospect of this new electoral threat, and would like me to retire from frontline politics, they have a very straightforward opportunity to keep themselves happy.

"All they have to do is deliver a proper Brexit – the one which 17.4 million people voted for in June 2016.

"Otherwise, this threat will turn into a promise."

(Image: REUTERS)

UKIP members worried by its drift could also flock to the new party.

Many Brexiteers loyal to Mr Farage have snubbed his former party after English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson was appointed an adviser to latest leader Gerard Batten.

Only two years ago UKIP were calling for Mr Farage to be knighted, hailing him as the man who allowed Brexit to happen.

UKIP surged to 4million votes in the 2015 general election before its support was cut drastically to around 500,000 in 2017.

(Image: PA)

Mr Farage fell out dramatically with his own party after it took a sharp lurch further to the right under Mr Batten.

But he has long been branded a hard-right figure himself.

He prompted public revulsion when he said foreign HIV patients should not be treated on the NHS and paraded before the now-infamous 'Breaking Point' poster, which was reported to police and compared to Nazi propaganda.