#UKIP leader Diane James stands down after only 18 days

UKIP leader Diane James (pictured) is standing down from her role 18 days after she was elected.

In a statement to the Times newspaper, she said she would not be "formalizing my recent nomination".

The 56-year-old MEP for South East England said she did not have "sufficient authority" to see through changes she had planned.

James succeeded Nigel Farage on 16 September after he quit in the wake of the UK's vote to leave the EU.

She had not appointed a deputy and UKIP officials were unable to say who was leading the party.

Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, Oakden said he would check with the Electoral Commission to see who the party leader was and admitted it could technically be Farage.

Asked whether Farage would return to lead the party again, Oakden said it was "very unlikely" but added: "I wouldn't say anything is impossible".

However, Farage told the BBC that he was "technically" party leader again but would not be contesting any future leadership contest.

Oakden previously said he would look to hold an emergency meeting of the party's national executive committee to confirm the process for electing Ms James's replacement.

"Whilst the decision is unfortunate, it is one that Diane is entitled to make. We thank her for all her work as leader, and as a hard-working MEP, a role she will continue with her customary vigour."

• Who is Diane James?

James, who posted her statement to the Times on her Twitter account, said since her election she had been in discussion with party officers about her role as leader.

"It has become clear that I do not have sufficient authority, nor the full support of all my MEP colleagues and party officers to implement changes I believe necessary and upon which I based my campaign," she said.

"For personal and professional reasons therefore, I will not take the election process further."

The former Conservative councillor, who defected to UKIP in 2011, said she will "continue to concentrate fully" on her activities and responsibilities as an MEP, adding it was her "final media statement on the issue".

Her decision is also thought to be partly due to a family illness.

Share this article: