Britain’s pro-Brexit voice quits as party head

Farage, 52, said he has done his bit for the cause of Britain leaving the 28-member economic bloc. “I have never been and never wanted to be a career politician,” said Farage, who was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for UK Independence Party in 1999. “I now feel that I’ve done my bit, that I couldn’t possibly achieve more,” he told reporters. “I feel it’s right that I should now stand aside as leader of UKIP.” 

Farage, who led a separate grassroots campaign to convince voters of a ‘Brexit’, had made numerous speeches in the wake of the result to declare June 23 Britain’s “Independence Day.” He was at the heart of some of the biggest controversies during the campaign, including an anti-immigration poster of refugees flocking to enter southern Europe, which was dubbed as “vile” by both the ‘Remain’ and ‘Leave’ camps.

He has quit as UKIP leader twice before - in 2009 over party infighting and in 2015 after failing to become an MP. But on both occasions decided to stay. He, however, insisted on Monday that he will not be changing his mind. “I promise you,” he said. “The victory for the ‘Leave’ side in the referendum means that my political ambition has been achieved,” he said. 

Farage has had two stints as leader of the Eurosceptic party since 2006. The race will now begin to find his successor. Possible candidates include deputy leader Paul Nuttall, immigration spokesman Steven Woolfe and culture spokesman Peter Whittle. Farage declined to endorse a successor, saying: “May the best man or woman win.”