Bloodless coup at UKIP? Diane James quits as leader, allowing the return of the Fuhrage

Last Updated: October 5, 2016By
Nigel Farage said he was technically Ukip leader after James stepped down, saying she did not enjoy the support of MEPs or party officials [Image: Andy Rain/EPA].

Nigel Farage said he was technically Ukip leader after James stepped down, saying she did not enjoy the support of MEPs or party officials [Image: Andy Rain/EPA].

Isn’t it interesting that Nigel Farage has unilaterally declared himself UKIP leader, after Diane James said she would not formalise her leadership.

Ms James lasted just 18 days in the job and had not altered the party’s registration with the Electoral Commission to reflect her role as the new leader.

This means that Mr Farage was still listed as leader – so it seem he has taken the opportunity to slither right back into his old position.

The mockery in the Twittersphere has been deafening.

One wit, who shall remain nameless as I’ve temporarily lost their tweet, suggested the UK was due for another political leadership crisis as we hadn’t had one for 11 days.

Journalist Sunny Hundal suggested: “At least one party is having more internal strife than Labour.”

(The urge to reply to that one with “The Conservatives?” was almost overpowering but I managed to overcome it… until now.)

Comparisons with Labour seemed the order of the day. The Canary‘s Kerry-Anne Mendoza tweeted: “UKIP Leader Diane James has quit after 18 days. Apparently Chuka Umunna’s been on the phone to UKIP HQ asking how to do a proper coup…”

More seriously, Eoin Clarke suggested: “As UKIP implodes a lot of decent working class people will be left without a party to support. Labour should champion economic patriotism.”

I’m not entirely sure I understand what he means by that but no doubt we’ll know soon enough.

Ms James said her reason for quitting was a lack of support from MEPs and party officers, meaning she could not implement the changes she believed were necessary for UKIP to continue.

Some have already claimed that this is because the Conservatives have stolen all the policies she was going to implement.

Nigel Farage has declared himself the interim leader of Ukip following the resignation of Diane James after just 18 days in the post.

The MEP said he had spoken to the Electoral Commission, which confirmed he was technically still leader. He made the declaration amid rumours that Ukip’s ruling body could try to install Neil Hamilton, the former Tory politician and Ukip leader in Wales, as temporary leader.

Speaking on BBC2’s Victoria Derbyshire show, Farage said he hoped that “horror show” would not come to pass as Hamilton was not good for the image of the party.

James stepped down saying she did not enjoy the support of MEPs or party officials for changes that needed to be carried out to Ukip’s national executive.

She was elected at Ukip’s party conference last month, but in a statement released on Tuesday night she said she would not formalise her leadership.

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

However, Farage claimed she had a “personal problem” relating to the health of a family member and had been shaken by being spat at while at Waterloo station.

Source: Nigel Farage declares himself interim Ukip leader | Politics | The Guardian

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3 Comments

  1. Dave October 5, 2016 at 1:36 pm - Reply

    “However, Farage claimed she had a “personal problem” relating to the health of a family member and had been shaken by being spat at while at Waterloo station.” Hmm. I thought it was only foreigners who were spat at. She knows how it feels, now.

  2. Barry Davies October 5, 2016 at 3:03 pm - Reply

    Well he was and is still leader as Diane James had not formally taken over the role so there is no slithering or unilateral declaration it’s just a fact of the system.

  3. Thomas October 5, 2016 at 4:02 pm - Reply

    UKIP without Farage is just a bunch of racists and loonies. He holds the party together.

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