Media mogul Rupert Murdoch invited UKIP leader Nigel Farage round for tea last Tuesday at his flat in London, according to reports in the Daily Telegraph.
The Australian, once courted by politicians keen to bring his staple of papers on side, has been ostracised by party leaders in the light of the Leveson inquiry and comes just days after UKIP shunted the Conservatives into third place at the Eastleigh by election.
Personal animosity between Farage and David Cameron has seen UKIP rule out an electoral pact between the two parties unless Cameron stands down in favour of a new leader.
Murdoch said that Farage was ‘reflecting opinion’ and drew parallel with the chaotic politics of Italy in a tweet saying: “Politics both places very fluid, economies going nowhere. New leaders emerging on distant horizon.
"Stagnant Europe wracked by discontent and resentment of EU. Glad we contributed to UK resisting the euro over many years.
"Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, few excellent, frustrated ministers. Farage reflecting opinion."