William Dartmouth MEP has written to UKIP leader Gerrard Batten resigning his position from the party, which he has represented in the European Parliament since 2009. In an explosive letter he eviscerates Batten for the way in which he has “hi-jacked” the party, and declares that he will continue to sit as an independent MEP.

“At a time when our founding cause of leaving the EU is at risk, you have chosen instead to campaign against Islam as a religion… That is not the UKIP that I joined… To put it simply, you have hi-jacked the UK Independence Party.”

Dartmouth is a hereditary peer who sat in the Lords until Blair’s reforms came into effect in 1999. He isn’t the first UKIP MEP to step back from Batten’s party, and he probably won’t be the last…

UPDATE: Batten hits back…

Dear Lord Dartmouth,

Thank you for your letter of resignation. I have received this without regret, and I am sure that my relief in receiving it exceeds your relief in sending it.

As an Earl and a gentleman I trust that you will now do the decent and honourable thing and resign your seat and hand it to the next person on the UKIP Southwest List, Gawain Towler.

Your seat was provided for you by the selfless efforts and generosity of UKIP members and donors and your seat morally belongs to UKIP not to you.

Toodle pip!

Gerard Batten