Nigel Farage is likely to stand to be an MP for the eighth time in June's general election, the party's leader Paul Nuttall has said, as he forecast the party would win a "handful" of seats.

Mr Nuttall last night told Channel Four News: "I suspect Nigel Farage will stand."

Ukip faces a major test of its viability as a political force in the snap general election called by Theresa May, the Prime Minister and Tory leader.

The party is apparently facing an existential crisis now that Brexit is all but achieved with the Article 50 exit process triggered last month.

It is also reeling from the resignation from the party of its only MP, Douglas Carswell, and the failure of leader Mr Nuttall to beat Labour in the recent by-election in Stoke-on-Trent Central, which he dubbed "the capital of Brexit".