Diane James is the candidate being pushed by many Faragists behind the scenes, and last night she followed their lead by demanding the party “ditch the NEC”. She also made this stark threat to UKIP plotters:

“There’s going to be no place in UKIP under my leadership for those who have sought or seek to destabilise, destroy or even obstruct what a new constitution will outline for the future governance of this party. So for all those individuals for whom what I’ve just described the cap fits, I suggest you find your P45 when it’s sent to you and I suggest you start looking for a new career, because we don’t want you in UKIP, I can tell you that now.”

It’s clear who she means – the anti-Farage faction on the NEC. Punchy stuff which will go down very badly with the Lisa Duffy/Suzanne Evans team. Though if Diane kicked out every Kipper who has destabilised the party there wouldn’t be many left…

UPDATE: Patrick O’Flynn, who’s in the Lisa Duffy camp, hits back at Diane:

“I am very surprised, disappointed and indeed perturbed to hear that Diane is threatening to expel from UKIP anyone who opposes the NEC being scrapped, not least because I oppose the NEC being scrapped. Given that she is not attending Ukip’s leadership hustings either Ukip members will be forgiven for wondering which party Diane is standing for the leadership of – Ukip or some new online party being promoted from the shadows.”