Nigel Farage steps down as leader of the UK independence party
If this month's politics had been an episode the The West Wing we'd all have been throwing things at the telly and saying how unrealistic it was. But it's not a TV program, it's the UK's reality. On the upside, today's breaking news of Nigel Farage's resignation, might just make you smile.
Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK independence party, has stepped down from his position this morning. In his resignation speech Farage claimed that he felt he'd done a 'pretty good' job of leading the party through the EU referendum. Nigel told reporters:
'My aim in politics was to get Britain out of the European Union,' he said in a speech outlining the party's post-referendum strategy.
'That is what we voted for in that referendum two weeks ago, and that is why I now feel that I've done my bit, that I couldn't possibly achieve more.
'And so I feel it's right that I should now stand aside as leader of UKIP.'
Farage also stated that his ambitions weren't for a long career in politics, saying 'The victory for the Leave side in the referendum means that my political ambition has been achieved. I came into this business because I wanted us to a self-governing nation, not to become a career politician.
'UKIP is in a good position and will continue, with my full support to attract a significant vote. Whilst we will now leave the European Union the terms of our withdrawal are unclear. If there is too much backsliding by the Government and with the Labour Party detached from many of its voters then UKIP's best days may yet to come.'
Lest we forget, Nigel also quit after the 2015 election, only to come back five days later. Maybe he'll take a leaf out of Ed Milliband's book and celebrate his resignation with a trip to Ibiza.
