The troubled relationship between Robert Kilroy-Silk and the UK Independence Party appears to be in terminal decline.

A statement issued by the party on Monday called on the controversial East Midlands MEP to resign his membership and stand down from his seat in the Brussels parliament.

The move followed reports Kilroy-Silk is set to launch a new party called Veritas, having already resigned the UKIP whip in the European parliament.

He has been increasingly estranged from UKIP ever since he failed in a bid to replace party leader Roger Knapman following last June's European elections.

A statement issued by the party on Monday said it "regretted" Kilroy-Silk felt it necessary to take steps to form a new group.

But it said "his inability to work as a team player" made it inevitable.

"Having seen documents relating to Veritas, including its manifesto, it is clear that he has nothing new to offer the electorate other than an opportunity to vote for a party lead by himself," continued the statement.

"By creating a parody of UKIP as a vehicle for his own aggrandisement, he is taking part in exactly the sort of political posturing which he claims publicly to abhor.

"UKIP is confident that the effect upon our membership of Mr Kilroy-Silk’s decision will be as marked as his request for UKIP members to 'rise up' and demand a leadership election.

"UKIP members have repeatedly proved that they stand for something, not someone."

Election

The anti-EU party also said that its preparations for the general election would be unaffected by the latest row.

"We would hope that Mr Kilroy-Silk will do the decent thing and resign both his UKIP membership and his European parliamentary seat, allowing a genuine UKIP candidate to take his place," it concluded.

"As he repeatedly states his belief in democracy, we are surprised that he does not feel honour-bound to do this immediately."

Defending his actions, Kilroy-Silk refused to deny he was planning to launch a new party.

"I don't want to mislead you in any way and I'm really not going to comment on that," he told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme.

But he said there had been pressure on him to make the move from supporters across the country.

"There is clearly a huge demand across the country, across people's backgrounds and ages and indeed across the old parties for something which is fresh and new and which will represent them and Britain's interests," he said.