Mr Kilroy-Silk told BBC radio: "I made a policy announcement two weeks ago, saying we would limit immigration to 100,000 and that we would have a points system, where people would be selected on the basis of their skills, their aptitude and ability to integrate into British society and make a contribution to it. He is saying virtually the same thing. He is plagiarising it."

A Conservative spokesman denied the claim of plagiarism, saying: "We have been working for months on this. If UKIP also study the Australian plans, they are likely to be the same, but we haven't stolen their clothes."

However, Liam Fox, the joint chairman of the party, confirmed he had told a recent meeting of the Bow Group, a right-of-centre think-tank, that the Conservatives had to take action to counter a drift of voters to the UKIP.

This morning I received an e-mail from a newly joined member of the Endlish Democrats stating that Knapman had plagiarised the UKIP Immigration Policy from that party, an assertion also made in the past by the BNP.

To further muddy the debate I might point out that Canada has been operating such a policy for years and that following a call for input on an immigration policy for UKIP shortly after his election as Leader I wrote to Roger Knapman on 23rd December 2002 on the subject 'Immigration Policy Iniative' and among other ideas I suggested the following:-

Immigration

A points system along the lines of that recently adopted by Canada would ensure only immigrants with a strong contribution to make to British society would be eligible to fill the limited places available in our crowded island. A multiplier for applicants with British connections could easily be built into sucha a scheme.

www Ukip Uncovered