Nigel Farage hits out at Ukip defector

Nigel Farage has promised to use money saved by quitting the EU to inject extra cash into the NHS as he sought to limit the damage caused by a Ukip MEP defecting to the Tories.

The Ukip leader, who pledged an extra £3bn (€4bn) a year for the health service, hit out at the party’s former communities spokesman, Amjad Bashir, after his defection to join David Cameron’s party.

Ukip said it had suspended Bashir shortly before news of his decision to join the Tories emerged, and Farage said the party had become “increasingly alarmed” about claims of impropriety.