A FORMER Gazette reporter has topped an Amazon bestseller list with his debut book – the inside scoop on Ukip’s national election campaign.

Owen Bennett’s book, Following Farage: On the Trail of the People’s Army, sees the Westminster journalist follow the Ukip bandwagon from Clacton MP Douglas Carswell’s shock resignation from the Tories to the fall-out from May’s General Election.

Bennett, 30, a former Daily Express reporter, led the DailyMirror’s online election coverage before joining the Huffington Post.

The book follows Bennett as he goes on the election trail with former MEP Godfrey Bloom, talks campaign tactics with Mr Carswell and enjoys a pint or two with party leader Nigel Farage.

Bennett said: “Douglas Carswell’s defection to Ukip inspired me to write the book.

“Even though I could see the party growing, and it had won the 2014 European elections, it was Carswell’s defection which made all of us working in Westminster realise this party was now a serious player.

“I had known Douglas since working for the Clacton Gazette and Harwich and Manningtree Standard, so while everyone else was wondering what Clacton, Frinton and the rest of the constituency was like, I could relax a little bit as I already knew.

“Coming back to Clacton after two years away was great and the town was clearly loving the spotlight.”

Bennett also praised the Gazette for its coverage of the by-election.

“In the press gallery in Parliament there are still some copies of the special Election Gazette front page pinned to some noticeboards – it really was a politically historic night,” he said.

Following Farage hit the top spot on Amazon’s political party books chart and is on sale now for £12.99.