Editor of right-wing news site considers Ukip leadership bid and suggests he has Nigel Farage's backing

Raheem Kassam says he has been told Mr Farage 'thinks it's a good idea' that he should stand for leader

The editor of right-wing news organisation Brieitbart said he will “maybe” run for leader of Ukip and he has been told he has the support of Nigel Farage.

When asked by presenter Evan Davis on Newsnight whether he would be running for leader, Raheem Kassam answered: "Maybe, maybe, we'll see".

The 29-year-old is a former advisor of Mr Farage, who resigned as Ukip party leader on Monday, stating after the Brexit vote he "couldn't possibly acheive more".

In an interview with Buzzfeed, Mr Kassam said: “I intend to shake up the leadership contest, maybe by running, maybe another way.”

He added: “Farage knows and he told me by way of third party that it was a good idea.”

But he added: “[I] don’t know if that is true or not, to be honest.”

Mr Kassam has since retweeted several endorsements of himself as leader.

While speaking on Newsnight, he defended the way the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union was run.

Although he said the controversial "breaking point" poster was "clumsy", he added: “The message was fine. That was a real picture."