Nigel Farage has announced his resignation as leader of the UK Independence Party.
Claiming that the Leave vote in last month’s EU referendum represents “the result we fought for so long to achieve”, the MEP has confirmed he will relinquish his duties at the head of the party, which has one seat in Westminster.
https://twitter.com/RobDotHutton/status/749892802939674626
Nigel Farage: The real me will now come out. In future I won't be constrained #Brexit
— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) July 4, 2016
Thank you to all my supporters in @UKIP and beyond. Delighted with the result we fought for so long to achieve. #BrexitBritain
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) July 4, 2016
But people have been quick to point out that this has happened once before.
Farage famously stood down as UKIP leader after the party failed to win a single seat at the 2015 general election, following through on a pre-election promise, though he quickly reversed his decision.
In fact, less than a week after tendering his resignation, he was back at the help after his own party refused to except his decision to quit. Farage quit UKIP for less than four days.
And even though he’s said there will be no u-turn this time, some aren’t convinced.
News that Nigel Farage is stepping down as leader of UKIP. Thought he did that after the election.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/elenacresci/status/749894026808193024
Going to stick my neck out and predict that Nigel Farage is in pole position to be the next leader of UKIP.
— Matt Tate (mode) (@MattWTate) July 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/rharrison744/status/749893264032034816
Oh Farage is stepping down is he? Tories and Labour doing their own event stories and UKIP just rehashing plots from last year.
— Chris (@chrs00) July 4, 2016
As for the response from UKIP’s sole MP, Douglas Carswell…make of it what you will.
Carswell has been put forward by Farage as his potential successor, and…well…
https://twitter.com/jimwaterson/status/749894976004292608
https://twitter.com/DouglasCarswell/status/749892870606381056
Is Farage gone for good, now? Only time will tell.
