A potential rival to Nigel Farage’s new Brexit Party says it will not field candidates in the forthcoming European election because it does not want to split the ‘leave' vote.

Henry Bolton, who founded the Brexit-leaning ‘Our-Nation Party’ and briefly led Ukip, said the party had decided it would not contest the election, scheduled for next month, despite having candidates lined up for the South East region, which includes Kent.

He also said the two were exploring a possible merger:“We have decided not to field candidates in the south east because we do not want to split the vote. At the same time, there are discussions going on between us and the Brexit Party. There are some issues - though not on Brexit - and we don’t know what the outcome will be.

“If we decide not to merge, we would stand candidates in the general election.”

Mr Bolton, who lives in Folkestone, set up his party after being ousted as Ukip leader after only a brief spell in the role.

The Our-Nation party describes itself in similar terms to the Brexit Party. In a ‘mission statement’ on its wesbite, it says:

“There is an urgent requirement for a 100% ‘leave’ party willing and able to contribute constructively towards determining the trajectory that the UK follows upon leaving the European Union and beyond.”

The new party set up by Farage, who unsuccessfully contested the South Thanet seat at the general election in 2015, will face opposition from Ukip.

Despite this, bookmakers William Hill say the new party is running Labour close to win the most seats.

It prices the Brexit Party at 11/10 from 2/1 to do so with Labour just ahead at 10/11. The Conservative Party are a distant 9/1.

“Nigel Farage is a very good salesman and if his party doesn’t win then we think he will run Labour very close,” said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams.

Mr Farage placed his own bet on winning the EU election under his new party’s colours. He bet £1,000 that his party would top the ballot next month.

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