CLACTON MP Douglas Carswell has told Ukip officials that he will not accept £650,000 from Parliament to run his office.

Mr Carswell has angered some in his party by insisting he will take just £350,000.

It is understood that some at Ukip HQ had briefed journalists against Mr Carswell, which had led to media speculation that he could leave the party.

But Mr Carswell has told the Gazette he will remain as a Ukip MP.

Following a meeting with Ukip leader Nigel Farage on Wednesday, Mr Carswell said: “As Ukip’s representative in the House of Commons, I’m making certain Ukip maintains proper Westminster standards, not Brussels sleazy standards.”

The Clacton MP yesterday said Ukip HQ had proposed putting 15 people in his office in Parliament.

“I told them no,” he said. “I employ full-time staff and there is going to be extra work, but at the most I need only four or five staff.

“A lot of people are used to working for Ukip in Brussels and were looking forward to getting their snouts in the trough, but I have disappointed them and they chose to go public.

“But I’m going to stand firm – we are not accepting that money."

Mr Carswell added: “Every party gets access to public money, but when the rules for that public money was drawn up in the 1970s they never envisaged one MP would be representing four million voters.

“It can’t therefore be right that I can accept £650,000 a year on top of all the other Parliamentary allowances to run my private office.

“I’m not prepared to look voters in Clacton in the eye and say I accepted that money."

The Guido Fawkes blog had quoted a Ukip source as saying Ukip were looking for a way to spend the money for the "betterment of our four million voters".

Ukip MEP Patrick O'Flynn stood by Mr Carswell, tweeting: "Whoever is briefing against Douglas Carswell does not have Ukip's best interests at heart."

For the full story, see Thursday's Clacton, Frinton and Walton Gazette