Could there be something of the knight about Farage?

Nigel Farage has spent his career battling the Establishment on behalf of the ordinary man. So it will have come as a surprise to his many admirers that an ally has been secretly campaigning on his behalf for a knighthood.

Yesterday morning it was revealed that in December, Ukip’s Lord Pearson told Douglas Carswell – the party’s only MP – that “for Nige” a mere OBE wouldn’t “quite hit the spot”.

Despite Lord Pearson’s efforts, however, the campaign for a knighthood has not borne fruit, and some in Ukip circles apparently believe Mr Carswell may have played a part in thwarting it.

Also yesterday morning, Mr Farage wrote a blistering article for this newspaper, urging Ukip to expel Mr Carswell from the party.

Later, Mr Farage called a press conference in London. It happened to be at the same venue where, eight months ago, he announced that he was retiring as Ukip leader because “I want my life back, and it begins right now”. Officially, yesterday’s press conference was a joint event with Owen Paterson, the Tory MP, about the impact of Brexit on the fishing industry.

However, instead of sitting at the podium with Mr Paterson and the representatives of the fishing industry, Mr Farage sat at the back of the room in the media seats, and then took questions from the media on his own afterwards.

A journalist asked him why he was picking a fight with Ukip’s only MP.

“He’s been picking a fight with us!” protested Mr Farage. “Quite frankly, I think we should have got rid of him in 2015.”

Mr Carswell, he went on, had attempted to “sabotage” his leadership, had “acted against the interests of Ukip over and over”, and was one of “these posh boys” who “don’t like to discuss immigration”. (Mr Farage, obviously, is not one of these posh boys, although it is true that his father was a stockbroker, and that the young Nigel was educated at Dulwich College. I once reminded Mr Farage that he went to the same public school as PG Wodehouse. “Yes,” honked Mr Farage, “he was two years below me.”)

Amid all the questions from the press about Mr Carswell, the former Ukip leader hadn’t yet been given the opportunity to deny the allegation that he wanted a knighthood. I decided to help him out.

Mr Farage, I said, you’re anti-Establishment. “Yes,” said Mr Farage. So you wouldn’t even want a knighthood anyway. You wouldn’t want to become a part of the cosy Establishment you’ve dedicated your life to opposing.

“This is not about that,” said Mr Farage briskly. “It’s got nothing to do with that. What it is, is a constant attempt to sabotage the politics of Ukip.” But if you were offered a knighthood, you’d say no, wouldn’t you? Sadly, Mr Farage appeared not to hear this question, and strode off in the direction of his chauffeur-driven car.