This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/diane-james-quits-ukip-former-leader-leaves-party-nigel-farage-latest-a7430246.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Diane James quits Ukip: Former leader announces she has left party Diane James quits Ukip: Former leader announces she has left party
(35 minutes later)
Former leader Diane James has left Ukip, saying her "relationship with the party has been increasingly difficult". Former leader Diane James has left Ukip, saying her "relationship with the party has been increasingly difficult".
Ms James resigned in October after only 18 days after being elected head of the party, saying she did not "have sufficient authority, nor the full support" to continue. Ms James resigned in October – only 18 days after being elected head of the party – claiming she did not "have sufficient authority, nor the full support" to continue.
Infighting has plagued Ukip since Nigel Farage stood down as leader, with one high-profile dispute involving leadership hopeful Steven Woolfe culminating in him quitting. Infighting has plagued Ukip since its notorious leader Nigel Farage stood down, with one high-profile dispute involving leadership hopeful Steven Woolfe culminating in him quitting.
Ms James will now sit as an Independent MEP. On leaving the party, Mr Woolfe said it was in a "death spiral".
In a statement, Ms James said the president of the European parliament, Martin Shultz, had accepted her request to stand as an Independent. Ms James, like Mr Woolfe, will now sit as an Independent MEP.
"At a high profile public event in Cambridge last week, I was asked why I had not completed the process to become leader of Ukip? I had little option, but to give the truthful response that, although nominated leader by popular vote in the membership, I found that I had no support within the executive and thus no ability to carry forward the policies on which I had campaigned. In a statement, Ms James said the president of the European parliament, Martin Shultz, had accepted her request to stand as an Independent.
She said: "At a high profile public event in Cambridge last week, I was asked why I had not completed the process to become leader of Ukip?
"I had little option, but to give the truthful response that, although nominated leader by popular vote in the membership, I found that I had no support within the executive and thus no ability to carry forward the policies on which I had campaigned.
"My decision to retire from the election process and not complete it was very difficult personally and professionally, given that Ukip has dominated my life and all my efforts for over five years."My decision to retire from the election process and not complete it was very difficult personally and professionally, given that Ukip has dominated my life and all my efforts for over five years.
"In recent weeks, my relationship with the party has been increasingly difficult and I feel it is now time to move on.""In recent weeks, my relationship with the party has been increasingly difficult and I feel it is now time to move on."
More follows... Ms James was considered one of Ukip's more reliable media speakers and was elected leader with more than 50 per cent of the vote.
Last week Ukip was found to have misspend almost £400,000 of EU money on campaigning for Brexit and the general election.
Mr Farage denied Ukip missued the funds, claiming the party was suffering "pure victimisation".