[Cherie]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32732129

The chief of UKIP's election campaign has launched a fierce attack on Nigel Farage, describing him as a "snarling, thin-skinned and aggressive man".

Patrick O'Flynn, the party's economics spokesman and one of its senior MEPs, claimed the leader is no longer the "cheerful, ebullient, cheeky and daring" politician he was portrayed to be in recent times.

Following on from Mr Farage's unsuccessful bid to become the MP for Thanet South, Mr O'Flynn has claimed his leader is transforming UKIP into a "personality cult".

In an interview with The Times newspaper, he described the events of recent days - which saw Mr Farage's offer to resign rejected by UKIP's national executive - as a "fiasco".

He also warned the leader's "aggressive and inexperienced" aides could damage the party's future performance and the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union.