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Ukip leader Diane James resigns after 18 days in charge Ukip leader Diane James resigns after 18 days in charge
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Ukip leader Diane James has resigned after just over two weeks in charge of the party, senior sources have said. Diane James has stepped back from the opportunity to become Ukip leader just 18 days after she was declared Nigel Farage's successor.
The shock twist in the Ukip story comes just 18 days after Ms James took the helm following a leadership contest. The shock twist in the Ukip story was confirmed after MEP Ms James released a statement saying she was quitting because she did not have "sufficient authority" to make the changes she thought necessary.
Her departure has led to immediate speculation that Nigel Farage could come back to be Ukip leader for the third time in his political career.Her departure has led to immediate speculation that Nigel Farage could come back to be Ukip leader for the third time in his political career.
In her a statement Ms James said: "It is with great regret that I announce that I will not be formalising my recent nomination to become the new leader of the party with the Electoral Commission.
"Having won the enthusiastic support of party members, I was nominated by them as the new leader at the recent Ukip Bournemouth conference.
"Since that time, I have been in discussion with party officers about the role. It has become clear that I do not have sufficient authority, nor the full support of all my MEP colleagues and party officers to implement changes I believe necessary and upon which I based my campaign.
"For personal and professional reasons, therefore, I will not take the electoral process further."
Suzanne Evans, one potential contender to take over, told The Independent: "There's no leadership contest at the moment.Suzanne Evans, one potential contender to take over, told The Independent: "There's no leadership contest at the moment.
"I'm not able to rule anything in or anything out.""I'm not able to rule anything in or anything out."
Ms Evans led Ukip for a few days when Mr Farage resigned the first time and won praise after writing the party's election manifesto, but fell out of favour when Mr Farage returned. Ms Evans led Ukip for a few days when Mr Farage resigned the first time and won praise after writing the party's election manifesto, but fell out of favour when Mr Farage returned.
Ukip's only MP Douglas Carswell, also seen as a possible candidate, simply tweeted: “In the middle of supper. Not taking calls about UKIP stuff. It's shepherds pie, by the way.”Ukip's only MP Douglas Carswell, also seen as a possible candidate, simply tweeted: “In the middle of supper. Not taking calls about UKIP stuff. It's shepherds pie, by the way.”
MEP Steven Woolfe, the party's immigration spokesman who was ruled out of the previous contest due to a bureaucratic error, is said to be ready to take over if called upon. MEP Steven Woolfe, the party's immigration spokesman who was ruled out of the previous contest due to a bureaucratic error, is said to be ready to take over if called upon. 
London Assembly Member Peter Whittle has also been praised following a competent performance during the London mayoral election.London Assembly Member Peter Whittle has also been praised following a competent performance during the London mayoral election.
Some Ukip insiders have suggested a new snap-leadership contest could be held to appoint someone to the top job rapidly.Some Ukip insiders have suggested a new snap-leadership contest could be held to appoint someone to the top job rapidly.
Early reports suggested MEP Ms James was leaving due to family reasons. She had been the frontrunner in the leadership contest which ended on September 16 and saw her declared winner after taking 8,451 votes, some 46.2 per cent.Early reports suggested MEP Ms James was leaving due to family reasons. She had been the frontrunner in the leadership contest which ended on September 16 and saw her declared winner after taking 8,451 votes, some 46.2 per cent.
She saw off a challenge from local politician Lisa Duffy, after other contenders Mr Woolfe and Suzanne Evans were ruled out.  She saw off a challenge from local politician Lisa Duffy, after other contenders Mr Woolfe and Ms Evans were ruled out. 
During the leadership battle she promised to focus on Brexit negotiations but consistently refused to set out any policies, insisting she did not want to make it "on the hoof".During the leadership battle she promised to focus on Brexit negotiations but consistently refused to set out any policies, insisting she did not want to make it "on the hoof".
Party insiders suggested she had been pushed into standing and she also refused to take part in any of the leadership hustings, only taking questions at her own campaign events.Party insiders suggested she had been pushed into standing and she also refused to take part in any of the leadership hustings, only taking questions at her own campaign events.
More to follow... Then on Monday the Electoral Commission confirmed that it was yet to receive paperwork from Ukip confirming Ms James was the party’s new leader.
It was reported that James did sign the forms but added the words “under duress” in Latin underneath her signature, rendering it void.
One Ukip source said that technically it meant Mr Farage was still leader, adding: “He may come back. He’s done it before.”