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: There are huge battles to come - and I'm ready

Ukip's Nigel Farage has revealed he felt he "owed it" to the party to stay on as leader when the national executive committee rejected his resignation.

In a first-person piece written forThe Telegraph, he said he felt there were "huge battles about to take place", adding that he had to put the country's interests first and foremost - as well as honour the wishes of the party's members.

Nigel Farage announced his resignation on Friday - but this was rejected by the party Credit: PA

Ukip will focus on electorial reform, he said, highlighting the four million votes they won - returning just one MP to Parliament - compared to the 56 SNP MPs elected on just 1.4 million votes between them.

And the major issue on the horizon, he added, was the promised referendum on Britain's membership of the EU.

As much as I wanted to spend the summer fishing, walking, and of course, in the European Parliament where all hell is currently breaking loose – that I owed it to the party that got me here.

There are some huge battles about to take place, and as much as I had thought that taking at least the summer off was in my best interests, I realise now that the party comes before me, and indeed, that this country comes before both.

With a European Referendum potentially on the horizon, I feel the need to stay involved for just a little bit longer, to add my voice to those who want Britain to be a country that trades and deals with the world, rather than ties itself to a post-WWII mind set about Europe and the political union.

Have I done the right thing by my party and my country? I think so. And I’m sure many people will have their opinions on the matter. All I can say is that I’m ready for the challenges ahead.

The fight starts here.

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

More top news