Shrewsbury politician Suzanne Evans suspended from Ukip, says Nigel Farage
Shrewsbury-based former Ukip deputy chairman Suzanne Evans has been suspended from the party, Nigel Farage said today.
The Ukip leader described the move as "unfortunate" but did not go into the reasons for the action.
"She has been suspended this morning. There is possibly going to be a legal challenge to that," he told BBC News.
"It is unfortunate. She is somebody who appeared front-facing for the party, gave Ukip a good look in many ways.
"Sometimes people fall out with their own parties and sometimes they say and do things that perhaps they shouldn't."
Ms Evans has been at loggerheads with Mr Farage over her support - along with Ukip's only MP, Douglas Carswell - for the Vote Leave campaign to become the official lead Out campaign in the referendum while he backs the rival Grassroots Out group.
She has already been removed from her posts as party deputy chairman and welfare spokesman,
However, Mr Farage denied he was taking revenge for critical comments she had made about his leadership.
"I haven't got time for revenge. I have got not just a referendum to fight but a massive set of elections in a few weeks' time on May 5 across the United Kingdom," he said.
