Former UKIP leader, Nigel Farage is on the shortlist for Time magazine's prestigious person of the year award.

Mr Farage features alongside the likes of US President-elect Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and American singer, Beyoncé

The American news magazine appeared to give Mr Farage much of the credit for Brexit.

Announcing the 11-strong shortlist, which was chosen by the magazine's editors, the publication said: "As head of the UK Independence Party, Farage was a face of the successful campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, positioning the referendum as the start of a global populist wave against the political establishment."

The winner will be announced on Wednesday.

Mr Farage said earlier that 2016 will be remembered as the year the "little people decided they would assert themselves and could actually beat the establishment".

He was speaking during a visit to Sleaford in Lincolnshire ahead of Thursday's by-election, in which the Conservatives are defending a majority of more than 24,000.

Asked if his party's candidate, Victoria Ayling, stands a chance of winning, Mr Farage said: "I don't know, it is 2016, why predict anything?”

“Only an idiot predicts things in 2016 because it's been so full of upsets.

"It's a big opportunity for voters to say to the Prime Minister: We voted for Brexit, we didn't vote for hard Brexit, we didn't vote for soft Brexit, we voted for Brexit ... and would you please get on with it."

Mr Farage again highlighted his closeness with Mr Trump and reiterated his belief he could perform an ambassadorial role for the UK with the President-elect's administration.

Speaking about his plans for 2017, he said: "Trump becomes president on January 20 and his incoming administration think that I have a very positive role to play between our two countries.

"At the moment, 10 Downing Street doesn't seem to think that.

"To me, that's a shame because I genuinely think we have an Anglophile president coming in on 20 January, a big opportunity to completely reset the relationship after the Obama years."