ROBERT KILROY-SILK agreed to withdraw his attempt to lead the UK Independence Party last night in a tumultuous showdown with his colleagues in Brussels.

Mr Kilroy-Silk’s attempt to oust Roger Knapman, the current UKIP leader, has been temporarily delayed after a meeting of all the party’s 11 MEPs that raged for hours.

The negotiations continue, but Mr Kilroy-Silk may be partly placated by the offer of a far greater role in the general election campaign and the promise of greater power beyond it.

The meeting, at the European Parliament building, was the first confrontation between Mr Kilroy-Silk and Mr Knapman in the two weeks since the former went public about his intention to lead.

His coup was almost immediately derailed by the departure of Paul Sykes, the UKIP’s most powerful backer, who opposed Mr Kilroy-Silk’s policy of standing against even the most Eurosceptic Conservatives at the next election.

The party is quietly trying to woo Mr Sykes and his millions back from the Conservatives and needs Mr Kilroy-Silk to keep his views quiet.

Those loyal to Mr Knapman also put forward the polling commissioned by the party on the “Kilroy effect”. This suggests that in the East Midlands, where Mr Kilroy-Silk has stated that he will stand in the general election next year, twice as many voters would be put off voting for the UKIP by his presence than would be persuaded by him.

Nigel Farage, an MEP at the meeting, said: “It was not bitter or horrible, there were flashes of humour, there is no blood on my carpet. There is a difference of opinion on the leadership, but the position is clear that Roger is going to lead and there won’t be a contest.

“Kilroy-Silk said today it is not the case that he will leave; he is a comitted Eurosceptic.”

Jeffrey Titford, the group’s European whip, emerged to deliver a brief statement. “Senior members of the party had a long and amicable discussion in which on both sides strong views were expressed,” Mr Titford said.

“All those involved were, however, concerned that, although there were legitimate differences on the direction that the party should take, nothing should be done to damage its long-term prospects.

“There is no change in the team we have and no change in the leadership.”

An unhappy-looking Mr Kilroy-Silk refused to comment on the discussions, simply repeating the same formula, that there had been an amicable discussion, which was continuing and that “strong views had been expressed on both sides”.

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