Ukip’s latest leader has said he could chase and kill a badger with his ‘bare hands’.

Speaking to Sky’s Niall Paterson, Henry Bolton confirmed that he had made the assertion previously in an interview with Russia Today.

The former soldier said: “They gave me a few options as ideas for an initiation ceremony into the leadership of Ukip.

“The one that was probably most suitable for me was chasing a badger across Dartmoor, capturing it and breaking its neck with one’s bare hands.”

Could @UKIP leader Henry Bolton really strangle a badger with his bare hands? #Paterson pic.twitter.com/c1J8dZWrrr — Sunday with Paterson (@RidgeOnSunday) October 15, 2017

Mr Bolton was the shock winner of Ukip’s latest leadership contest last month, beating controversial anti-Islam candidate Anne Marie Waters and deputy leader Peter Whittle.

The party has been in turmoil over the past year, after three divisive leadership contests and a humiliating general election result.

Mr Bolton used his victory speech to call for unity.

“I do not see myself now as being simply your leader. I see myself as serving this party. You are the party, not me. This party needs to serve its country,” he said.

“Without being united we cannot lead, we cannot lead the nation and we cannot hold the Government to account and we cannot achieve our core purpose at all.”