Twickenham’s UKIP candidate described Nigel Farage’s initial decision to stand down as a ‘hasty personal’ promise but has branded his return as something that ‘voters want’.
In what some may claim is the greatest comeback since Lazarus Farage, who failed to win the Thanet South seat and resigned three days ago, has been persuaded by UKIP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to resume his role as party leader.
UKIP’s candidate in the last election Barry Edwards described Farage’s decision to remain as leader, despite tendering his resignation three days ago, as a good thing for the party, and democracy.
He said: “It is a big surprise I thought his promise to resign was a little bit hasty at the time frankly.
“He had great success in the election and only got one seat – I think we need Nigel back to start working hard on our democracy.
“From the point of view of a promise broken, which I’m sure is something that people will talk about, I don’t think it was a promise to the British people but a promise to himself.
“Zac Goldsmith made a promise to the British people over Heathrow and said that if that goes ahead he will resign – that is a promise to the British public.
“I think Tania Mathias needs to make the same promise as Zac.
The public don’t want Nigel to go, that was demonstrated when they voted in droves for UKIP.”
UKIP Chairman Steve Crowther released a statement following the NEC’s refusal to accept Farage’s resignation.
He said: “As promised Nigel Farage tendered his official resignation as leader of UKIP to the NEC.
“This offer was unanimously rejected by the NEC members who produced overwhelmingly evidence that the UKIP membership did not want Nigel to go.
“The NEC also concluded that UKIP’s general election campaign had been a great success.
“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,that in these circumstances, 4 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.”
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