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| UKIP's Raheem Kassam pulls out of leadership race | UKIP's Raheem Kassam pulls out of leadership race |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| UK Independence Party leadership candidate Raheem Kassam has pulled out of the race just three days after the official launch of his campaign. | UK Independence Party leadership candidate Raheem Kassam has pulled out of the race just three days after the official launch of his campaign. |
| The former aide to leader Nigel Farage said he was not "satisfied about the integrity of the process". | The former aide to leader Nigel Farage said he was not "satisfied about the integrity of the process". |
| He added: "It is a decision I have not taken lightly, but following meetings this weekend I realised the path to victory is too narrow." | He added: "It is a decision I have not taken lightly, but following meetings this weekend I realised the path to victory is too narrow." |
| Mr Kassam urged his supporters to back Peter Whittle for party leader. | Mr Kassam urged his supporters to back Peter Whittle for party leader. |
| His withdrawal means there are four candidates left in the UKIP race. | |
| They are: | They are: |
| In a statement announcing his withdrawal, Mr Kassam said those at the top of UKIP were treating the contest "like a coronation", adding he was "not satisfied about the integrity of the process". | |
| He accused some Members of the European Parliament of using party databases to "effectively campaign against me - ostensibly against the rules". | |
| Mr Kassam added that he had not raised enough money to run "more than a digital campaign from SW1" and said that not to "feature at events all around the country would have made me a hypocrite, given how much I criticise the establishment for ignoring the country". | |
| He added: "I wish the UK Independence Party and whoever its new leader is all the best in ensuring Brexit happens, and in the upcoming electoral tests next year. I remain committed to the causes of the UK Independence Party, but sadly, at this campaign, it was a bridge too far for us." | He added: "I wish the UK Independence Party and whoever its new leader is all the best in ensuring Brexit happens, and in the upcoming electoral tests next year. I remain committed to the causes of the UK Independence Party, but sadly, at this campaign, it was a bridge too far for us." |
| Mr Kassam launched his official campaign last Friday, portraying himself as the "Farage-ist" candidate and pledging to increase UKIP's membership to more than 100,000. | Mr Kassam launched his official campaign last Friday, portraying himself as the "Farage-ist" candidate and pledging to increase UKIP's membership to more than 100,000. |
| After pulling out of the race, he said he would continue as editor-in-chief of the Breitbart London news website and would be travelling to the US to cover the conclusion of the presidential election campaign. | |
| Another candidate, London Assembly member David Kurten, withdrew on Sunday. | |
| Nominations for the UKIP contest close on Monday, with the result to be announced on 28 November. | |
| Mr Farage, for whom Mr Kassam worked as chief of staff, returned to the leader's role on an interim basis after his successor, Diane James, resigned only 18 days into the job. | Mr Farage, for whom Mr Kassam worked as chief of staff, returned to the leader's role on an interim basis after his successor, Diane James, resigned only 18 days into the job. |