8 Times Nigel Farage Said He Would Not Remain Party Leader If He Lost His Seat

    UKIP's Nigel Farage is back as party leader after the executive committee rejected his resignation. But previously he's said it wouldn't be "credible" for him to lead the party if he wasn't an MP.

    Siraj Datoo
    by Siraj Datoo

    BuzzFeed News Reporter, UK

    Nigel Farage is set to remain as UKIP's leader after the party's executive committee rejected his resignation and persuaded him to withdraw it.

    Cathal McNaughton / Reuters

    But Farage has said on multiple occasions that he would step down as leader if he failed to win in South Thanet. Such as:

    1. When he told The Telegraph he would not "do a Salmond" and quit before coming back again as party leader.

    Suzanne Plunkett / Reuters

    “I have done that already," he said. "I don’t think I can do it for a third time."

    He added: “I am not in the same position as Mr Cameron is in. I have not got a safe seat. I have to win this seat. I am leader of the party I need to get elected because if I don't I am for the chop.”

    2. When he wrote in his book that "it is curtains for me" if he failed to win in South Thanet.

    Suzanne Plunkett / Reuters

    "What credibility would UKIP have in the Commons if others had to enunciate party policy in parliament and the party leader was only allowed in as a guest?," he wrote.

    "Am I supposed to brief UKIP policy from the Westminster Arms? No – if I fail to win South Thanet, it is curtains for me. I will have to step down."

    3. When The Guardian ran this story.

    The Guardian / Via theguardian.com

    4. When he was asked on election night whether he would "honour his pledge to quit" and asked the journalist whether they were calling him a "liar".

    Christopher Hope @christopherhope

    Me to Nigel Farage: "Are you going to resign if you lose South Thanet?" Farage: "Are you calling me a liar? I have never broken my word yet"

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    5. When he said he'd be "gone within 10 minutes" if he lost.

    Faisal Islam @faisalislam

    And here was Farage on one of many occasions saying he'd resign in ten mins ... He did ... And now he's back:

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    6. When he produced this headline.

    Breitbart / Via breitbart.com

    7. This headline.

    Daily Mail / Via dailymail.co.uk

    8. And this headline.

    ITV / Via itv.com

    It's fair to say Nigel Farage had implied he'd definitely stand down if he failed to be elected as an MP.