Nigel Farage today puts a commitment to increase defence spending at the heart of the UK Independence Party’s faltering election campaign.

In article for The Daily Telegraph, the Ukip leader appeals directlty to disaffected supporters who are drifting back to the Tories.

He said that if Ukip would ensure Britain spends will spend “substantially” more than two per cent of national income on defence by 2020 as well as guarantee jobs on civvy street for soliders after 12 years’ service and build a new veterans’ hospital

The list of demands – which will be inthe party’s manifestowhen it is launched later today – will be seen as a bargaining tool for Ukip if the party enters talks with the Conservatives to support a minority Tory administration after next month’s general election.

The Daily Telegraph understands that Mr Farage will open “back channels” to discuss a post-election pact with the Tories a week before election day on May 7.

Ukip officials will be open to discussing deals as long as there would be quick referendum on Britain’s European Union membership.

The news came as it emerged that Steven Woolfe, the party’s immigration spokesman, privately said Suzanne Evans, the author of Ukip’s manifesto, does not understand the party’s policy on migrants.

He said that “the section on defence will be sure to rattle the dwindling number of Conservative voters who still see Mr Cameron’s party as the party of defence”.

Painting Ukip as “the new party of defence”, Mr Farage said that Ukip would ensure that spending on defence is substantially more than two per cent of gross domestic product.

He said this commitment would continue “not just this year. But now and for the next parliament, and thereafter. And we’ve fully costed this, as you’ll see when our manifesto launches today”. 

He added: “After today, the truth about defence of the United Kingdom will be clear to everyone. If you’re looking for the party of defence, then Ukip is the party for you.”

Other defence policies include making sure that members of the Armed Forces do not pay income tax when they are deployed overseas, and set up a new Veterans’ department run by its own minister.

Ukip would also build “a new, dedicated military hospital, providing expert care” to stop Britain “being the only major country in Europe without a military hospital”.

A ‘Boots to Business’ programme will channel loans and grants to former servicemen and women looking to start their own businesses.

Mr Farage added: “We will guarantee the offer of a job in the police, prison, or border force for anyone who has served in the Armed Forces for a minimum of 12 years.”

Mr Woolfe’s comments emerged after a series of about-turns over whether the party wants to limit the number of migrants coming to the UK every year at 30,000, 50,000 or not at all.

Mr Woolfe was overheard making the comments after a meeting about immigration in a pub in the west Midlands last month.

Asked about the apparent internal chaos over the key issue, Mr Woolfe said: “The problem is, even within my own party, my own deputy chairman, didn’t seem to understand it herself despite the fact I actually put picture graphs, I put the numbers on and the point is people confuse immigration.

“Immigration consists of loads of different numbers, the number of students, it’s asylum seekers, it’s family members.”

Mr Woolfe blamed the media for misinterpreting the fact that he was speaking about highly skilled migrants.

He added: “When I gave the speech about the cap, it was only about high skilled migrants. I said we’ll have 50,000. At the moment the government’s got 20,700.”

Earlier this month Miss Evans said that the manifesto would contain no net immigration targets, a day after Mr Farage said it should be a net 30,000 a year and Steve Woolfe, the immigration spokesman, said it should be a net 50,000 a year.

A Ukip spokesman said: “In a little down time Mr Woolfe was voicing frustrations with the policy development programme – using hyperbole as one often does when frustrated.”