Ms Evans said she would be supporting Lisa Duffy, a Ukip councillor for Ramsey in Huntingdonshire, to become the next party leader while admitting she is not a “household name”.

The endorsement sets up a bruising battle between the different wings of the party over the leadership which could reopen tensions which flared up last summer.

Mr Farage’s backers are reported to be supporting Steven Woolfe, the Ukip MEP who has remained loyal to the former leader, to take over the position.