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New infighting claims hit Ukip tonight after staff were allegedly ordered to ban their own media spokesman from speaking to the media.

Suzanne Evans, who wrote the party's 2015 election manifesto, is said to have enraged Nigel Farage when she admitted he was 'divisive' in a TV interview.

Ms Evans, who survived a bloodbath of Ukip officials after Farage 'unresigned' following his election defeat, made the comments at lunchtime today on the BBC's Daily Politics.

"I think Nigel is a very divisive character in terms of the way he is perceived," she told host Andrew Neil.

"He’s not divisive as a person but the way he is perceived is as having very strong views that divide people."

She added her party leader might not front the 'out' campaign in an EU referendum on his own.

She went on to say that he had achieved a huge amount.

But her appearance prompted a stinging 'directive' apparently issued from party officials by e-mail today and leaked to the BBC.

The Corporation has blacked out the name of the sender and recipient of the e-mail, which was apparently sent at 4.39pm.

It declared: "I have just spoken to Nigel and in light of Suzanne Evans' comments I am issuing this directive.

"From this moment onwards no one employed by the Ukip press office is to have any further contact with SE.

(Image: PA)

"No bids are to be accepted for SE and she is not to be offered as an official UKIP spokesman.

"No one is to brief SE or advise her on any issue."

The row echoes the saga of Patrick O'Flynn, the Ukip MEP who resigned and made a humiliating apology after criticising Nigel Farage during the election.

He said the Ukip leader had become 'snarling' and 'thin-skinned' - and later said his comments had been a 'mistake'.

But almost 24 hours after the row involving Ms Evans erupted, the Ukip press office issued a statement denying the e-mail was the word of Mr Farage.

"Suzanne Evans has not been sacked as a UKIP spokesman," the statement said.

"The email seen by the BBC was issued without proper authority."