Advertisement

  1. National

Nigel Farage to remain Ukip leader after resignation rejected

Nigel Farage has had his resignation as Ukip leader rejected by the party's national executive committee and he remains as leader, the party has said in a statement.

View all 5 updates ›

Farage to remain as leader after resignation 'rejected'

Nigel Farage remains the leader of Ukip after his resignation was rejected by the party's national executive committee, Ukip has said in a statement.

Ukip chairman Steve Crowther said the committee (NEC) had produced "overwhelming evidence" that members of the party did not want him to go, saying they believed the general election campaign had been "a great success".

Nigel Farage was 'persuaded' to withdraw his resignation, the party chairman said Credit: PA

He said Mr Farage had been "persuaded" by the committee to withdraw his resignation.

We have fought a positive campaign with a very good manifesto and despite relentless, negative attacks and an astonishing last minute swing to the Conservatives over fear of the SNP. In these circumstances, four million votes was an extraordinary achievement.

On that basis Mr Farage withdrew his resignation and will remain leader of Ukip.

In addition, the NEC recognised that the referendum campaign has already begun this week and we need our best team to fight that campaign led by Nigel.

He has therefore been persuaded by the NEC to withdraw his resignation and remains leader of Ukip.

– Steve Crowther, Ukip chairman

Mr Farage had announced before the election that he would resign if he was not voted into his chosen constituency of South Thanet - and he duly did so on Friday afternoon.

However, he had kept the option of returning open by hinting he might compete in the leadership race in the autumn.

  1. Read more
  2. 5 updates
Nigel Farage to remain Ukip leader after resignation rejected

More top news