Ukip leader Diane James resigns after just 18 days in job – reports

[muriel_volestrangler]

Diane James has reportedly resigned as Ukip leader, after just 18 days in the job.

A source close to a senior Ukip figure told the Guardian she had family reasons for wanting to leave and had been expected to quit at some point this week.

James’s resignation could not immediately be verified with the Ukip press office.

The source said there were discussions in Ukip 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.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/04/ukip-leader-diane-james-resigns-after-just-18-days-in-job-reports

!

[Denzil_DC]

1. The Telegraph carries much the same

Diane James quits as Ukip leader after just 18 days as successor to Nigel Farage

Ukip leader Diane James has quit the role after just 18 days, sources have said.

According to senior Ukip members Ms James, who took over from Nigel Farage last month, has resigned her position for personal and family reasons.

One senior party member told The Telegraph that Ms James has felt uneasy about her new role ever since she was spat at on a train station platform after winning the leadership contest.

Her resignation came just hours before a big speech to MEPs in Strasbourg about the future of Ukip in the European Parliament.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/04/diane-james-quits-as-ukip-leader-after-just-18-days-as-successor/

Let the infighting recommence!

FWIW, millionaire UKIP backer Arron Banks told Channel 4 News's Michael Crick: "'I think it will be Steven Woolfe by acclamation', with Farage return in interim."

OTOH, Farage told the Press Association's Arj Singh: "he wouldn't return as UKIP leader 'for $10 million'. Asked if he'd take $20m: 'No I'm not coming back, I'm retired.'"

The Telegraph hints that since James only signed her leadership takeover documents under duress, if at all, technically Farage might still be party leader!

[LeftishBrit]

2. Uggh; hope it's not Nigel back

Actually, with all this hard-line 'Brexit means Brexit and let's kick out the foreign workers and overseas students' stuff that's been going on at Tory conference, perhaps Theresa May could take over UKIP, and someone less extreme (they still exist, I suppose) could take over the Tory leadership.