UKIP is reportedly prepared to sue Ofcom if it is not given the same amount of coverage as the Conservative and Labour parties in the run-up to next year's general election.

The party's head of communications Patrick O'Flynn has written to the broadcasting regulator saying UKIP should now be considered a "major party" and that leader Nigel Farage (pictured, Reuters) should be involved in all leaders' debates, according to The Sunday Times.

He reportedly wrote that it is “unthinkable” his party, which polled 27.5 per cent of UK votes in last month's European Parliament election, should be treated as “just another minor party”.