Nigel Farage celebrated his final conference as Ukip leader by going late-night skinny dipping in the sea off Bournemouth, it has been revealed.
His friend and Ukip financial backer Arron Banks said they got naked and went for a swim after a late-night drinking session on the eve of the conference.
The millionaire businessman told BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions on Friday night that Farage would not make another comeback as Ukip leader, saying “I can tell you he’s not coming back”.
He told the show: “I can tell you he’s de-mob happy because we had dinner last night and we had a few drinks and it was late at night and we went skinny dipping off the Bournemouth pier.
“So, if ever a man was out to leave British politics, that’s it.”
Shocked fellow guest Angela Eagle, Labour’s former shadow business secretary, declared: “Ew, what a terrible image.”
Presenter Jonathan Dimbleby also appeared taken aback by the revelation and said: “Can we just record for posterity that you, Arron Banks, and Nigel Farage last night went skinny dipping off Bournemouth pier - is that what you said?”
A relaxed Banks replied: “Well, Nigel actually said to me ‘let’s go for a paddle’, I said ‘come on, man up, let’s just go for a swim - strip down’.”
Clearly less than impressed with the image being conjured, Ms Eagle said: “I think there should be a law against it.”