SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Farage steps down after Brexit victory

The leader of the UK Independence Party Nigel Farage has announced he's resigning after having achieved Brexit.

Nigel Farage.
Nigel Farage.

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

The leader of Britain's anti-European Union UK Independence Party Nigel Farage says he is standing down after having realised his ambition of winning last month's referendum in favour of Brexit.

"I have never been, and I have never wanted to be, a career politician. My aim in being in politics was to get Britain out of the European Union," he told reporters.

"So I feel it's right that I should now stand aside as leader of UKIP.

"During the referendum campaign, I said 'I want my country back'. What I'm saying today, is, 'I want my life back,' and it begins right now."

Remain supporters near Green Park in London, as they march to Parliament Square to show their support for the European Union in the wake of Brexit.. Picture date: Saturday July 2, 2016.
Remain supporters near Green Park in London, as they march to Parliament Square to show their support for the European Union in the wake of Brexit.. Picture dat Source: AAP

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

It is not the first time Farage has quit as leader of the party. He stood down in May 2015 after failing to win a parliamentary seat in last year's general election, only to withdraw his resignation three days later.

He said he would continue to support the party, and continue to watch Brussels "like a hawk" during the negotiations around Britain's exit from the EU.

He reiterated his view that Britain's new prime minister needed to be from the "Leave" campaign but declined to back a specific candidate out of Andrea Leadsom, Michael Gove or Liam Fox. Current frontrunner Theresa May backed "Remain".

Farage, 52, has been a member of UKIP since its 1993 birth and was first elected to the European Parliament in 1999.


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world