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04/09/2009
UKIP Leader To Quit
Nigel Farage is to relinquish his leadership of the UK Independence Party to focus on carving out a career in Westminster.
The South East region MEP is expected to announce his departure at the party's conference in Southport later.
Mr Farage has said he will challenge Commons Speak John Bercow for his Buckingham Parliamentary seat at the next general election.
"I've been the leader of the domestic party for the last three years and frankly doing both of those jobs is too much for any one person - the party is far too big," he told the BBC.
"We're about to embark on a general election campaign in which we're going to have over 500 candidates and because of the way UKIP is structured the leader of the domestic party has got to plan, organise, lead and run that domestic general election campaign.
"And I'm not going to take that burden on because frankly it's too much and anyway I'm going to be busy in Buckingham taking on John Bercow."
Ordinarily candidates are not fielded in the incumbent speakers constituency in recognition of the office's neutrality.
Mr Farage said his decision was prompted by MPs who had "broken the trust" of the British people, claiming Mr Bercow "represented the worst" of the Commons.
He is expected to retain his tenure of leading UKIP MEPs in the European Parliament.
(PR/BMcC)
The South East region MEP is expected to announce his departure at the party's conference in Southport later.
Mr Farage has said he will challenge Commons Speak John Bercow for his Buckingham Parliamentary seat at the next general election.
"I've been the leader of the domestic party for the last three years and frankly doing both of those jobs is too much for any one person - the party is far too big," he told the BBC.
"We're about to embark on a general election campaign in which we're going to have over 500 candidates and because of the way UKIP is structured the leader of the domestic party has got to plan, organise, lead and run that domestic general election campaign.
"And I'm not going to take that burden on because frankly it's too much and anyway I'm going to be busy in Buckingham taking on John Bercow."
Ordinarily candidates are not fielded in the incumbent speakers constituency in recognition of the office's neutrality.
Mr Farage said his decision was prompted by MPs who had "broken the trust" of the British people, claiming Mr Bercow "represented the worst" of the Commons.
He is expected to retain his tenure of leading UKIP MEPs in the European Parliament.
(PR/BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
