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UKIP leader Diane James 'to stand down' UKIP leader Diane James standing down
(35 minutes later)
UKIP leader Diane James is expected to stand down 18 days after she was elected to the post, senior party sources have said. UKIP leader Diane James is standing down from the role 18 days after she was elected.
UKIP has not formally confirmed reports of the resignation but Ms James has told the Times newspaper she "would not be formalising my recent nomination". In a statement to the Times newspaper, the MEP said she would not be "formalising my recent nomination".
The 56-year-old MEP for South East England said she did not have "sufficient authority" to see through changes which she had planned.
Ms James succeeded Nigel Farage on 16 September after he quit in the wake of the UK's vote to leave the EU.Ms James succeeded Nigel Farage on 16 September after he quit in the wake of the UK's vote to leave the EU.
The MEP for South East England won with 8,451 votes, ahead of Lisa Duffy. She won with 8,451 out of the 17,970 votes cast, ahead of Lisa Duffy, who received 4,591.
A former businesswoman and healthcare professional, Ms James saw off four other contenders: Ms Duffy - who received 4,591 votes - Bill Etheridge, Liz Jones and Phillip Broughton. A former businesswoman and healthcare professional, Ms James saw off four other contenders: Ms Duffy, Bill Etheridge, Liz Jones and Phillip Broughton.
But the race to replace Mr Farage exposed bitter divisions within the party. In her acceptance speech, she said: "We are going to confound our critics, we are going to outwit our opponents, we are going to build on our election success that we have achieved to date and do more."
'Not sufficient authority' But the race to replace Mr Farage had exposed bitter divisions within the party.
One-time frontrunner Steven Woolfe was barred from standing after submitting his nomination papers too late, while Suzanne Evans was unable to take part as she was suspended. 'Personal and professional reasons'
One-time frontrunner Steven Woolfe was barred from standing after submitting his nomination papers too late, while Suzanne Evans was unable to take part as she was suspended at the time.
Ms James's decision is thought to be partly due to family commitments.Ms James's decision is thought to be partly due to family commitments.
In a statement to the Times, she said since her election "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. She posted her statement to the Times on her Twitter account.
In her statement, she said since her election "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 election process further.""For personal and professional reasons therefore I will not take the election process further."
Saying it would be her "final media statement on the issue", Ms James added: "I will continue to concentrate fully on my activities and responsibilities as an elected UKIP Member of the European Parliament".
'Radio silence'
Reports of Ms James's resignation prompted speculation that Mr Farage - UKIP leader from 2006-2009 and 2010-2016 - might return to lead the party for a third time.Reports of Ms James's resignation prompted speculation that Mr Farage - UKIP leader from 2006-2009 and 2010-2016 - might return to lead the party for a third time.
But he told the Press Association: "I'm not coming back, I'm retired".But he told the Press Association: "I'm not coming back, I'm retired".
The face of Euroscepticism in the UK for nearly two decades, he helped turn UKIP from a fringe party into the third biggest in UK politics - in terms of votes at the 2015 general election.The face of Euroscepticism in the UK for nearly two decades, he helped turn UKIP from a fringe party into the third biggest in UK politics - in terms of votes at the 2015 general election.
Announcing his decision to stand down, he said his "political ambition has been achieved".Announcing his decision to stand down, he said his "political ambition has been achieved".
UKIP's only MP Douglas Carswell said: "I'm sad and surprised. I just hope she's alright".
BBC political correspondent Alex Forsyth said Ms James' resignation was a fresh blow for a party that has been struggling with divisions.
Meanwhile, a number of senior UKIP members in the East of England have told the BBC about having "nagging concerns" over the "radio silence" from Ms James's camp since her election as leader.
They suggested that unless UKIP's national executive committee changes party rules, Lisa Duffy - who was backed by many anti-Farage supporters - "made sense" as an interim leader.