A watery end: How Farage celebrated his last night as leader skinny dipping

WAS he trying to swim to France? Given his political complexion it seems more likely he was simply going out with a splash.

Whatever the reason, Nigel Farage chose to celebrate his last night as Ukip leader with a late-night skinny dipping session off Bournemouth pier.

Ukip’s key financial backer, multimillionaire said Mr Banks. “We had a few drinks, it was late at night and we went skinny dipping off Bournemouth pier. So if ever a man was about to leave British politics – that’s it.”

Angela Eagle, Labour’s former shadow business secretary, said: “What a revolting image,” adding: “There should be a law against it.”

Even Jonathan Dimbleby, who has seen and heard a few things in his time, seemed somewhat taken aback.

“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’re saying?” he asked.

Unabashed, Mr Banks told BBC Radio 4’s “Well, Nigel said to me, ‘Let’s go for a paddle.’ I said, ‘Come on, man up – let’s go for a swim and strip down.’ ”

For his part Mr Farage insisted that he kept his underwear on and went into the sea – where the water was 17C – because it was “warm and humid”.

He added: “I’m not saying we should recommend people chuck themselves into the sea all around the place, but I can assure you that it’s not the first time I’ve done such a thing and I intend to do it again.” Diane James, the new Ukip leader, introduces Douglas Carswell to the stage before he addresses the party’s conference in Bournemouth yesterday