Former Ukip leader will lose £35,500 in total – the amount he paid assistant who is believed to have not been working on EU matters. / Nigel Farage is being docked half his monthly MEP salary after a European parliament investigation alleged he had misspent public funds intended for staffing his office.

ID’s influence doubtful, however, after falling short in aim to become third-biggest bloc.

Nigel Farage’s Brexit party has been in talks to join the far-right group in the European parliament and is keeping its options open about its future allies, a spokesman for the party has said.