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Farage to quit as leader of UKIP Farage to quit as leader of UKIP
(10 minutes later)
Leader of the UK Independence Party Nigel Farage is to announce he is standing down as head of the party.Leader of the UK Independence Party Nigel Farage is to announce he is standing down as head of the party.
The South East MEP, who has led UKIP for three years, will tell the party conference he is quitting a year before his term is up.The South East MEP, who has led UKIP for three years, will tell the party conference he is quitting a year before his term is up.
Mr Farage told the BBC that leading the party in the EU Parliament as well as the domestic party is too big a task. He will continue to lead the party's MEPs; but he told the BBC that leading the domestic party as well is too much.
He is also set to stand against Commons speaker John Bercow in his Buckingham seat at the next general election.He is also set to stand against Commons speaker John Bercow in his Buckingham seat at the next general election.
'Far too big''Far too big'
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Farage said: "I've been the leader of the domestic party for the last three years and frankly doing both of those jobs is too much for any one person - the party is far too big.Speaking to the BBC, Mr Farage said: "I've been the leader of the domestic party for the last three years and frankly doing both of those jobs is too much for any one person - the party is far too big.
"We're about to embark on a general election campaign in which we're going to have over 500 candidates and because of the way UKIP is structured the leader of the domestic party has got to plan, organise, lead and run that domestic general election campaign."We're about to embark on a general election campaign in which we're going to have over 500 candidates and because of the way UKIP is structured the leader of the domestic party has got to plan, organise, lead and run that domestic general election campaign.
"And I'm not going to take that burden on because frankly it's too much and anyway I'm going to be busy in Buckingham taking on John Bercow""And I'm not going to take that burden on because frankly it's too much and anyway I'm going to be busy in Buckingham taking on John Bercow"
Earlier, Mr Farage said he was standing in Mr Bercow's constituency because MPs "have broken the trust" of the British people and Mr Bercow "represents the worst" of the Commons.Earlier, Mr Farage said he was standing in Mr Bercow's constituency because MPs "have broken the trust" of the British people and Mr Bercow "represents the worst" of the Commons.
Convention rules that Speakers stay out of party politics. Labour and the Lib Dems will not stand against Mr Bercow.Convention rules that Speakers stay out of party politics. Labour and the Lib Dems will not stand against Mr Bercow.
On Friday, Mr Farage is expected to tell the party that he wants to focus on his campaign and his role leading UKIP MEPs in the European Parliament.On Friday, Mr Farage is expected to tell the party that he wants to focus on his campaign and his role leading UKIP MEPs in the European Parliament.
According to BBC political correspondent Ben Wright, a new leader will manage the party, run the election strategy and formulate policies and the contest is expected to get under way next week.According to BBC political correspondent Ben Wright, a new leader will manage the party, run the election strategy and formulate policies and the contest is expected to get under way next week.
At the recent European elections, UKIP came second and its annual conference is focused on trying to get a breakthrough at Westminster.At the recent European elections, UKIP came second and its annual conference is focused on trying to get a breakthrough at Westminster.