‘We must respect wishes of the 17.4m’

UKIP leadership favourite, Steven Woolfe, will tonight tell party members to show patience and give the Government time to get the right Brexit deal.

But speaking at a rally in Manchester, Mr Woolfe will put Prime Minister Theresa May on notice that there can be no backsliding on delivering Brexit in full.

The man who is expected to succeed Nigel Farage as party leader will say he has “confidence” in the three leading ministers in charge of negotiating Britain’s future. Mr Woolfe campaigned for UK independence with new Trade Secretary Liam Fox, Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

But he will insist that the wishes of the millions who voted Leave must be respected.

He will say: “Remember 17.4 million people voted to leave the EU. Their wishes must be respected.

Deliver

“The people voted for the UK to leave the single market, control its own borders, sign a free trade deal with Europe and take back control of its fishing waters.”

Mimicking Mrs May, he will add: “Brexit must mean Brexit. No backsliding, no side-stepping, no Brexit-lite.

“I have confidence in the three Brexiteers – Davis, Fox and Johnson,” but he added: “They should now be given some time to do the job.”

He will warn that Ukip will ensure there can be no diluting of the Brexit deal.

He will say: “Let me be clear. UKIP under my leadership will not stand by and see Brexit watered down. We will not tolerate a fudged deal. We will be the voice for the 17.4 million people who voted to leave. This Government must deliver.”

Mr Woolfe is one of three candidates to replace Mr Farage. The other two are North East MEP Jonathan Arnott and Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge.