Nigel Farage quit as the leader of Ukip because he received death threats against himself and his family, it has been claimed.
Mr Farage shocked the political world yesterday when he announced he was stepping down, proclaiming this his work was effectively done after the country’s vote for Brexit.
But the Daily Express claimed today that the leader had become increasingly concerned about death threats, which had escalated since the referendum result was declared.
Mr Farage has contacted the police in recent days about people threatening to harm his family, the paper reported.
One source told the paper: “He has been very concerned about the death threats. They have really got to him."
Menacing messages on social media have included the tweet: “I will pay for someone to shoot Nigel Farage.”
Another read: “Someone needs to assassinate Nigel Farage with immediate effect."
The revelations came as leadership contender Paul Nuttall called for the party to unify, avoiding the internal tensions which have dogged it in recent years.
