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The civil war within Ukip has deepen as the party's UK leader Nigel Farage attacked the party's AMs for making Neil Hamilton their leader.

Mr Farage described the decision to choose Mr Hamilton over the party's Wales leader Nathan Gill as "unjust and an act of deep ingratitude".

Three Ukip AMs, Gareth Bennett, Caroline Jones, Michelle Brown supported Mr Hamilton leaving Mr Gill with the support of only two, Mark Reckless and David Rowlands.

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Former Conservative MP and one-time TV personality Mr Hamilton re-ignited his political career last week after winning a regional seat for the Mid and West Wales region in the Senedd.

And just five days after being elected, he successfully challenged Nathan Gill for the leadership of the party in the Assembly.

Farage: 'I have worked closely with Nathan Gill'

He said: "I have worked closely with Nathan Gill as leader of Ukip Wales. I have always found him to be hard-working, honest, and loyal.

"His removal after a successful Welsh Assembly election campaign is unjust and an act of deep ingratitude. In behaving like this, Ukip looks too like the other parties that we have fought so hard against."

A deep split

The party has been split between supporters of Neil Hamilton and of Nigel Farage.

Nathan Gill told an election debate in April that he probably would not have chosen Mr Hamilton as a Ukip candidate.

Mr Hamilton's wife Christine then hit back, branding the Mr Gill a "third-rate general".

Party officials say the decision to appoint Mr Hamilton as Assembly leader would not affect Mr Gill's separate position as leader of Ukip in Wales.