And now the head of the U.K. Independence Party, a key architect of the dramatic vote to leave the European Union, has resigned as well. Now that voters have chosen to leave the 28-member bloc, “I now feel that I have done my bit”, he said.
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The Labour Party is in turmoil too, with leader Jeremy Corbyn losing the support of most of his MPs after being unable to stop the Brexit.
He also refused to say who he backed as the new Tory leader but argued that it must be one of the three – Andrea Leadsom, Michael Gove or Liam Fox – who backed Britain’s exit from the EU.
Throughout his political career, Farage has often attracted controversy.
Ukip needs to put its in-fighting behind it, the party’s deputy leader has warned.
The party’s only other MP has had a rocky relationship with Farage and tweeted a smiley face in response.
“During the referendum I said I wanted my country back … now I want my life back”, he said at a press conference in Westminster.
While UKIP won just one seat in last year’s general election, it was able to rally supporters in part because of Farage’s sound bites, as well as his partiality to a pint of beer and a cigarette.
Suzanne Evans, UKIP’s parliamentary spokeswoman who’s suspended for criticizing the party, told Sky News she would like to stand in for Farage.
“I challenged homophobia in the party and as a result that was seen as somehow disloyal, something that still completely mystifies me, but we are where we are”, she said.
UKIP London Assembly Member David Kurten described Mr Farage as “an inspiration and a giant in British politics”.
He says that this time it’s for good, though.
If it wasn’t for UKIP and definitely Nigel Farage, we would never have had this referendum.
Farage’s announcement Monday made him the third major British political figure to say he is stepping aside rather than taking ownership of the country’s turbulent political future.
But as per his claims, if the driving force behind his career as a politician was to ensure autonomy for Britain, his responsibility as leader of the UKIP does not come to an end with the referendum. And Nigel Farage said very clearly today, “I want my life back”. “I will watch the renegotiation process in Brussels like a hawk”, he said.
Some expressed concern over what the leadership vacuum may mean for the Labour Party.
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During his resignation speech on Monday (4 July), he said: “During the referendum campaign, I said I want my country back”.
