The Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan has held talks with Ukip about defecting, Arron Banks, one of the anti-EU party’s biggest donors, has claimed.

Mr Hannan, an arch-Eurosceptic who is a close friend of the two Tory MPs who jumped ship to Ukip last year, apparently met Mr Banks twice before Christmas.

The insurance tycoon, who entered the political scene last autumn after pledging £1 million to Ukip, told The Times that he had instigated the meetings with Mr Hannan. The Bristol-based businessman said that he was surprised to read claims that Mr Hannan had been instrumental in delivering Amjad Bashir, a Ukip MEP, into the hands of David Cameron this weekend.

Mr Hannan had made some “very punchy” claims about the Conservative leader, Mr Banks