“I’ve had an absolute whale of a time”, Farage told a news conference on Wednesday at the EU legislature in Strasbourg where he has sat for UKIP for 17 years, often facing jeers in the chamber for his attacks on the European Union. Farage announced on Monday July 4, 2016 that he is resigning as leader of the party.
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“Django Unchained” star Christoph Waltz didn’t mince words when it came to discussing his thoughts on the Brexit vote – or the Leave campaign’s “head rat”, Nigel Farage. “I have never been, and I have never wanted to be, a career politician”.
Ukip chairman Steve Crowther announced that he is stepping down from the role, with Paul Oakden appointed as a temporary replacement until the new leader is chosen in September. “We want our country back, we want our independence”.
That’s not to say Farage didn’t make any rivalries during his tenure. On Monday, Carswell greeted Farage’s resignation announcement by posting on Twitter a smiling emoji wearing sunglasses.
In the run-up to the referendum, Farage was kept out of the official “Leave” campaign amid fears that his focus on immigration would deter middle-of-the-road voters.
Mr Farage says he intends to stay on as a member of the European Parliament as Britain triggers the process to exit the EU.
“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”.
Meanwhile, key Ukip figures are lining up behind Andrea Leadsom’s campaign to become the next Prime Minister and Conservative leader.
French President Francois Hollande says the British vote to leave the European Union won’t threaten eventual enlargement of the bloc.
He said he will not change his mind about stepping down and when asked about who he would like to lead the party he refused to give a name and said “may the best man or woman win”. “What I’m saying today, is, ‘I want my life back, ‘ and it begins right now”, he added.
But the process to leave the European Union is not straightforward.
This week will see the Conservatives start the process of whittling down the candidates to succeed Cameron, who has said he will leave it to his successor to withdraw from the EU.
“Nigel has a lot of knowledge, he won this referendum”.
Former education minister Michael Gove was expected to be her stiffest opponent, but appears to have alienated MPs over his last-minute withdrawal of support for close referendum ally Boris Johnson in order to launch his own bid.
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Since the no-confidence vote, at least twenty members of Corbyn’s shadow cabinet have resigned or been sacked, and more than a dozen junior shadow ministers resigned.
