The Brexit Party will have the same policies as Ukip but will be distanced from the far right, leader Nigel Farage has claimed.
“In terms of policy, there’s no difference, but in terms of personnel there is a vast difference,” he told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme.
“Ukip did struggle to get enough good people into it but unfortunately what it’s chosen to do is allow the far right to join it and take it over and I’m afraid the brand is now tarnished.”
Farage will formally launch his new party this morning in preparation to fight the European elections that the UK could be forced to hold on May 23.
The former Ukip leader is hoping to attract support from pro-Brexit Tories unhappy at Theresa May’s decision to delay exit day.
One Tory MP, Anne Marie-Morris, has even suggested she could vote for the new party.
Ministers are set to hold further talks with Labour in an attempt to break the deadlock in parliament.
May made clear on Thursday she intended to bring back her Brexit deal to the Commons for a fourth time after EU leaders agreed to extend the Article 50 withdrawal process to October 31.
The prime minister met briefly with Jeremy Corbyn at Westminster when they agreed to continue efforts to find a common way forward.
No. 10 is still hoping they can get a deal through parliament in time to avoid the need to hold the elections to the European Parliament..
But during exchanges in the Commons, Corbyn warned the prime minister she had to be prepared to compromise if the talks were to stand any chance of success.
May, however, is under growing pressure from Tory Brexiteers furious at the latest extension after she had promised repeatedly Britain would be out of the EU by March 29 – the original Brexit date.
In the Commons, she brushed off a call for her resignation by the veteran Eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash who accused her of an “abject surrender” to Brussels.
But senior Conservatives have warned the demands for her to go are only likely to intensify, particularly – as many now expect – the European elections do go ahead.
With the Commons having risen for a foreshortened Easter recess, Downing Street will be hoping for some respite as MPs return to their constituencies.
However there was further anger among Tories Brexiteers after it emerged the government had shelved emergency planning for a no-deal Brexit following the latest extension.
It includes the dismantling of Operation Brock on the M20 in Kent to deal with potential lorry tailbacks from Dover caused by the need for new customs checks.