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| Nigel Farage says he may 'technically' still be Ukip leader | Nigel Farage says he may 'technically' still be Ukip leader |
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| Nigel Farage believes he may technically still be the leader of Ukip following the resignation of Diane James after just 18 days in the post, party sources say. | |
| Paul Oakden, the party’s chairman, suggested it was unclear who now formally leads the party after James announced that she would step down less than three weeks after being elected at Ukip’s annual conference. | Paul Oakden, the party’s chairman, suggested it was unclear who now formally leads the party after James announced that she would step down less than three weeks after being elected at Ukip’s annual conference. |
| A Ukip source said James had filled in an official form to take over control of the party and added the words “under duress” in Latin; and confirmed that Farage himself believes he may “technically” still be leader – but has no intention of running in a new contest. | A Ukip source said James had filled in an official form to take over control of the party and added the words “under duress” in Latin; and confirmed that Farage himself believes he may “technically” still be leader – but has no intention of running in a new contest. |
| James was anointed at Ukip’s party conference last month but in a statement released on Tuesday night, she said she would step down for personal and professional reasons, saying: “It has become clear I do not have sufficient authority, nor the full support of MEP colleagues and party officers to implement the changes I believe are necessary and upon which I based my campaign.” | James was anointed at Ukip’s party conference last month but in a statement released on Tuesday night, she said she would step down for personal and professional reasons, saying: “It has become clear I do not have sufficient authority, nor the full support of MEP colleagues and party officers to implement the changes I believe are necessary and upon which I based my campaign.” |
| Asked who is currently leader of the party, Oakden told the BBC’s Today programme: “In my mind, it is Diane James; she has quit indeed, but that doesn’t mean she is not the leader until a new leader is appointed.” | Asked who is currently leader of the party, Oakden told the BBC’s Today programme: “In my mind, it is Diane James; she has quit indeed, but that doesn’t mean she is not the leader until a new leader is appointed.” |
| But he said he would consult the Electoral Commission on Wednesday, adding: “If they still have Nigel Farage down as leader, that will make it a very interesting day for me, I suspect.” | But he said he would consult the Electoral Commission on Wednesday, adding: “If they still have Nigel Farage down as leader, that will make it a very interesting day for me, I suspect.” |
| Oakden said he had not spoken to James directly about her resignation, and insisted: “Both I and the NEC have been consistently supportive of Diane since she was elected as leader.” He added: “The job of being leader is often very difficult from the job of running to be leader.” | Oakden said he had not spoken to James directly about her resignation, and insisted: “Both I and the NEC have been consistently supportive of Diane since she was elected as leader.” He added: “The job of being leader is often very difficult from the job of running to be leader.” |
| A party source said that along with her concerns about the party’s direction, James was unhappy about having been spat at in an incident at Waterloo station in London. James, who was chosen by Ukip’s members after Farage stepped down in the wake of the Brexit vote, said she would continue as MEP for South East England. | A party source said that along with her concerns about the party’s direction, James was unhappy about having been spat at in an incident at Waterloo station in London. James, who was chosen by Ukip’s members after Farage stepped down in the wake of the Brexit vote, said she would continue as MEP for South East England. |
| Discussions are taking place within the party about holding a snap two-week election to install a new leader quickly, with former deputy Paul Nuttall and disqualified former candidate Steven Woolfe two possible candidates. | Discussions are taking place within the party about holding a snap two-week election to install a new leader quickly, with former deputy Paul Nuttall and disqualified former candidate Steven Woolfe two possible candidates. |
| Raheem Kassam, the former chief of staff to Farage who left after the election, has confirmed he will himself run for the leadership. However, Farage told Press Association that he would not return as Ukip leader “for $10m”. Asked if he’d take $20m, he replied: “No I’m not coming back. I’m retired.” | |
| Suzanne Evans, the former deputy chair who clashed with Farage, could also try again after she missed out because she was suspended at the time of the last contest, while another former candidate, Bill Etheridge, said he would not rule out standing again. Lisa Duffy, who ran against James, also said she could participate. | Suzanne Evans, the former deputy chair who clashed with Farage, could also try again after she missed out because she was suspended at the time of the last contest, while another former candidate, Bill Etheridge, said he would not rule out standing again. Lisa Duffy, who ran against James, also said she could participate. |
| An MEP for South East England since 2014, 56-year-old James was the Eurosceptic party’s first female leader and won the post by a wide margin after securing the backing of senior Ukip figures including Farage. | |
| In her acceptance speech, she promised to bring a new professionalism to the party, saying: “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.” | In her acceptance speech, she promised to bring a new professionalism to the party, saying: “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 questions were raised about her commitment to the post after she declined to take part in hustings debates around the country with rival candidates. | But questions were raised about her commitment to the post after she declined to take part in hustings debates around the country with rival candidates. |
| After a career in the healthcare sector, she was elected to Waverley borough council in Surrey as an independent in 2007 after becoming “disillusioned” with the Conservatives. | |
| She switched to Ukip in 2011 and shot to national prominence in 2013 when she fought the parliamentary byelection in Eastleigh, Hampshire, which was triggered by the downfall of cabinet minister Chris Huhne, who was jailed for lying about a speeding offence. She came close to taking the seat from the Liberal Democrats, coming second with 27.8% – fewer than 2,000 votes behind the winning candidate. | She switched to Ukip in 2011 and shot to national prominence in 2013 when she fought the parliamentary byelection in Eastleigh, Hampshire, which was triggered by the downfall of cabinet minister Chris Huhne, who was jailed for lying about a speeding offence. She came close to taking the seat from the Liberal Democrats, coming second with 27.8% – fewer than 2,000 votes behind the winning candidate. |
| James raised some eyebrows in a 2015 interview when she declared her admiration for the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, describing him as a strong leader who stands up for his country. | James raised some eyebrows in a 2015 interview when she declared her admiration for the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, describing him as a strong leader who stands up for his country. |
| Her elevation to the leadership of the party meant that Ukip joined the Conservatives, Scottish National party and Plaid Cymru in having a female politician at the helm, while the Greens have a woman as job-sharing co-leader. | Her elevation to the leadership of the party meant that Ukip joined the Conservatives, Scottish National party and Plaid Cymru in having a female politician at the helm, while the Greens have a woman as job-sharing co-leader. |