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UKIP leader Diane James standing down UKIP leader Diane James standing down after 18 days
(about 3 hours later)
UKIP leader Diane James is standing down from the role 18 days after she was elected. UKIP leader Diane James is standing down from her role 18 days after she was elected.
In a statement to the Times newspaper, the MEP said she would not be "formalising my recent nomination". In a statement to the Times newspaper, she 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. The 56-year-old MEP for South East England said she did not have "sufficient authority" to see through changes 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.
UKIP chairman Paul Oakden said: "I will now look to convene an emergency meeting of our national executive committee to confirm the process for electing Diane's replacement. She had not appointed a deputy and UKIP officials were unable to say who was leading the party.
Party chairman Paul Oakden said he had received confirmation that Ms James "has chosen to resign".
"I will now look to convene an emergency meeting of our national executive committee to confirm the process for electing Diane's replacement.
"Whilst the decision is unfortunate, it is one that Diane is entitled to make. We thank her for all her work as leader, and as a hard-working MEP, a role she will continue with her customary vigour.""Whilst the decision is unfortunate, it is one that Diane is entitled to make. We thank her for all her work as leader, and as a hard-working MEP, a role she will continue with her customary vigour."
A former businesswoman and healthcare professional, Ms James saw off four other leadership contenders: Lisa Duffy, Bill Etheridge, Liz Jones and Phillip Broughton. Ms James, who posted her statement to the Times on her Twitter account, said since her election she had been in discussion with party officers about her role as leader.
She won with 8,451 out of the 17,970 votes cast, ahead of Ms Duffy, who received 4,591. "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 said.
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." "For personal and professional reasons therefore, I will not take the election process further."
But the race to replace Mr Farage had exposed bitter divisions within the party. The former Conservative councillor, who defected to UKIP in 2011, said she will "continue to concentrate fully" on her activities and responsibilities as an MEP, adding it was her "final media statement on the issue".
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. Her decision is also thought to be partly due to a family illness.
Ms James's decision is thought to be partly due to family commitments.
She posted her statement to the Times on her Twitter account.
AnalysisAnalysis
By Alex Forsyth, political correspondentBy Alex Forsyth, political correspondent
Diane James took over UKIP at a time when it was beset by rifts and infighting.Diane James took over UKIP at a time when it was beset by rifts and infighting.
There were different factions within the party that were struggling to come together and agree on its future direction.There were different factions within the party that were struggling to come together and agree on its future direction.
When elected, she made a point of saying that the focus for her was on unity - the party needed to get behind her and rally around.When elected, she made a point of saying that the focus for her was on unity - the party needed to get behind her and rally around.
She wanted to make some changes about the way the party was governed, how its ruling body, the national executive committee, ran things.She wanted to make some changes about the way the party was governed, how its ruling body, the national executive committee, ran things.
Reading between the lines of her statement, it seems she does not feel she can continue do that.Reading between the lines of her statement, it seems she does not feel she can continue do that.
Read more: UKIP turmoil returns after resignationRead more: UKIP turmoil returns after resignation
'Personal and professional reasons'
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."
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".
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".
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".
'Radio silence''Radio silence'
UKIP's only MP Douglas Carswell said: "I'm sad and surprised. I just hope she's alright". Ms James, a former businesswoman and healthcare professional, saw off four other contenders - Lisa Duffy, Bill Etheridge, Liz Jones and Phillip Broughton - in the leadership battle.
BBC political correspondent Alex Forsyth said Ms James' resignation was a fresh blow for a party that has been struggling with divisions. She won with 8,451 out of the 17,970 votes cast, ahead of Ms Duffy, who received 4,591.
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. 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.
In her acceptance speech at the party's conference in Bournemouth, Ms James 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."
But the race to replace Mr Farage had exposed bitter divisions within UKIP, with Ms James encountering criticism from some in the party after declining to take part in hustings debates around the country with her rivals.
Ms James's resignation prompted speculation Mr Farage - UKIP leader from 2006-2009 and 2010-2016 - might return to lead the party for a third time.
However, he told the Press Association: "I'm not coming back, I'm retired".
The face of Euroscepticism in the UK for nearly two decades, Mr Farage 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".
UKIP's only MP, Douglas Carswell, told the BBC about Diane James quitting as party leader: "I'm sad and surprised. I just hope she's alright".
Meanwhile, a number of senior UKIP members in the East of England have told the BBC of having "nagging concerns" about 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.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.