Ukip admits it may not have a leader by Christmas amid party chaos

Party chairman Paul Oakden says there is no need to 'panic'

Leadership favourite Steven Woolfe smiles from his hospital bed after his 'altercation' with another Ukip MEP (Ukip/PA)

Ukip’s chairman has admitted his party may still be without a leader by Christmas, as it tries to pull itself together following recent chaos.

Paul Oakden claimed there is no need to "panic", despite Nigel Farage’s replacement as leader quitting after 18 days and favourite to take over Steven Woolfe being hospitalised following an "altercation" with another of the party’s politicians.

Ukip’s national executive committee meets on Monday to set out the rules of the new leadership contest.

Mr Oakden said: "We are going to be taking our time. We are going to be doing it in a very calm and collected fashion to make sure that we get the right results.

"There is no need to rush. There isn't any need to panic ourselves into getting a new leader into place quickly."

Asked if the contest may go beyond Christmas, he said: "It may do".

Diane James was declared leader in September following a contest, but then stepped down after 18 days, claiming she did not have the authority to carry out the role.

MEP and immigration spokesman Mr Woolfe was then seen as favourite, but angered some members by making a statement in which he suggested he had considered defecting to the Tories after Theresa May took over.

He collapsed in the European parliament following a fight which was said to involve another Ukip MEP Mike Hookem. Mr Oakden said all those "in and around" the area where the "altercation" had occurred, had been questioned over the incident.

Speaking to BBC radio the party chairman said: "The investigation will certainly conclude before the close of nominations for the leadership campaign."

He added: "We are all delighted that Steven is recovering, although, obviously, he is still feeling somewhat under the weather after what appears to have been a very serious medical incident.

"So, only he can say whether he is in full fitness and ready to fight a leadership campaign."

Mr Oakden said he saw no "impediments" to Suzanne Evans standing in the election, after she was deemed ineligible last time.