Ex-Ukip leader Diane James accused of ‘act of irrational selfishness’ by Nigel Farage for revealing she is now quitting the party altogether
The MEP will now sit as an independent after she announced her relationship with colleagues had become 'increasingly difficult'
THE FORMER Ukip leader Diane James has been accused of an "act of irrational selfishness" by Nigel Farage after announcing she is quitting the party altogether.
She stood down from the top job after just 18 days in charge back in October after winning an internal contest to replace Mr Farage, saying she did not have the support of her colleagues.
And today she announced that her relationship with Ukip had become "increasingly difficult" since her decision, saying it was "time to move on".
In a statement, Ms James said she had applied to become an independent MEP in the European Parliament, in a further sign the party is struggling now that it has achieved its aim of getting Britain out of the EU.
Mr Farage was forced to come out of retirement to take over in the interim while they held another leadership election.
And responding to her decision, he said: "This is yet another act of irrational selfishness from Diane James.
"This pattern of behaviour says that is she unfit to continue as an MEP. She should do the honourable thing and resign."
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This afternoon she explained her decision, saying: “At a high profile public event in Cambridge last week, I was asked why I had not completed the process to become leader of Ukip.
“I had little option, but to give the truthful response that, although nominated leader by popular vote in the membership, I found that I had no support within the executive and thus no ability to carry forward the policies on which I had campaigned.
“My decision to retire from the election process and not complete it was very difficult personally and professionally, given that Ukip has dominated my life and all my efforts for over five years.
“In recent weeks, my relationship with the Party has been increasingly difficult and I feel it is now time to move on.
“I wish the Party well for the future under new leadership.”
She confirmed the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, has accepted her request to sit as an independent.
Elected as an MEP for South-East England in 2014, she joins Steven Woolfe, who was favourite to take over from her as leader, as now former Ukip members.
Mr Woolfe quit the party after he was involved in an altercation with colleague Mike Hookem that left him in hospital.
He said the party was now in a death spiral.
Ms James's departure means the 24-strong contingent of Ukip MEPs has been reduced to 20.
Amjad Bashir defected to Conservatives in 2015, while Janice Atkinson also sits as an independent.
Former deputy leader Paul Nuttall and ex-party chairman Suzanne Evans are the favourites to now win the leadership, though neither of them ran against Ms James in the summer.
Ms Evans joined Mr Farage in calling for Ms James to step down as an MEP, saying in a statement: “I am very sorry to hear Diane James has decided to leave Ukip.
“I am sure she has her own personal reasons and I do not question those. However she, like Steven Woolfe, were both elected as MEPs on a Ukip ticket, not as individuals.
“If they have any honour or integrity, both should now stand down as MEPs and vacate their seats.
"I reiterate my call for defectors Amjad Bashir and Janet Atkinson to do the same, for the same reasons.”
She and Mr Nuttall, along with John Rees-Evans are left in the contest, the winner of which will be announced on November 28.