UKIP leader Farage insists he’s going nowhere after Carswell calls for change

“It is not for me to decide who the leader of the party is but I think it is fair to say that we all need to think very carefully as to whether or not we can build beyond the base that we have now got without that change”, UKIP lawmaker Douglas Carswell told the BBC in an interview broadcast on Friday.

Asked about whether Mr Carswell’s opinion should matter more because he is the party’s only MP in Westminster after winning the election in his seat, Mr Farage replied: “Well he did but so what, he’s one person”.

Open warfare broke out between Ukip’s senior politicians after Mr Carswell, the party’s only MP, called on leader Mr Farage to quit.

Ukip failed to make widely-predicted advances in the Oldham poll, which saw Labour hold the seat with a majority of more than 10,000, with Mr Farage claiming the process was “bent” and complaining about the postal vote system.

“I am 100% Ukip and I’m very committed to Ukip, I’m not going anywhere”, he said.

But Mr Farage hit back from Brussels, telling Sky News the timing of Mr Carswell’s comments – as David Cameron attends a “make or break” meeting for his European Union renegotiations – was “wholly inappropriate”.

Ukip’s only MP told the BBC the party needed to “change gear and to change its management” in order to grow its support beyond its current level.

Clacton MP Carswell argued that the party needed a “fresh face” in charge to go to “the next level” after its comprehensive Oldham by-election defeat – but ruled out making a bid for the leadership himself.

He said there are “a lot of talented people in the party” and that “no party is defined by any one person”.

“I think Paul Nuttal is very capable and clearly very ambitious, Steven Woolfe is able and I have been very impressed with Diane James”.

Nigel Farage gestures as he delivers his speech at the party’s annual conference at Doncaster Racecourse in Doncaster, northern Britain, September 25, 2015. “Douglas, frankly, must put up or shut up”.

“91 per cent of UKIP voters in the country are behind my leadership”, said Mr Farage.

Carswell’s words are a direct attack on UKIP’s leader Nigel Farage. “Douglas, you’re wrong. Ukip backs Nigel”.

The ultimatum follows a decision by Mr Carswell to make public a row that has been brewing between the two men over the future direction of the party.