Nigel Farage hails 'year of big political revolution' at his Ritz party

Nigel Farage has told guests at a party toasting his success in 2016 that it has been the year of the "big political revolution" - and that there is plenty more to come.

The interim UKIP leader marked his 20 years in politics at the Ritz on Wednesday.

In a speech to guests, he described 23 June - the day Britain voted to leave the European Union - as "the most amazing evening", and said he celebrated at the London hotel with champagne and kippers the following morning.

Mr Farage said 2016 would be remembered for years to come.

"When people look back in 100 years, 200 years, 2016 will stand out as one of those great historic years," he said.

"It's the year of the big political revolution, and there are a lot of people in this room who fought hard over years to make Brexit happen."

He also predicted a "seismic shock" at the next general election if Theresa May has not delivered Britain's exit from the EU by 2020.

Following President-elect Donald Trump's suggestion that Mr Farage should be appointed as Britain's ambassador to the US, he was presented with a tray of Ferrero Rocher chocolates in a reference to the ambassador's reception in the famous TV advert.

Describing the vote to leave the EU as "the first brick knocked out of the establishment wall" in his speech, he went on to mention Mr Trump's US election victory.

Greeted by laughter from the crowd, he said: "And then what we got on 8 November, with the election of The Donald, was something of a completely different order."

Guests cheered as he continued: "For those that are here that aren't particularly happy with what's happened in 2016, I've got some really bad news for you - it's going to get a bloody sight worse next year."

He said UKIP voters were portrayed as "being old and angry and negative", yet a poll after the referendum of party supporters showed 86% felt the country now had a "great future".

The party came just a few days after Mr Trump said Mr Farage would do "a great job" as ambassador to the US.

But Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who was one of the guests, dismissed suggestions that Mr Farage should replace Sir Kim Darroch in Washington.

Mr Rees-Mogg said: "Mr Farage's relationship with Mr Trump could be beneficial to the country but I am not sure he should be ambassador."

When asked if Mr Farage should be the UK's ambassador to the EU instead, Mr Rees-Mogg laughed and said: "I think he'd enjoy that."