Pro-Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage resigns as UKIP head

Pro-Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage (52) has resigned as the head of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) after 'achieving political ambition' of Brexit.

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Farage said he will step down as head of the party in the wake of the UK's decision to leave the EU, reports the Guardian.

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"During the the referendum I said I wanted my country back . now I want my life back," Farage said at a press conference in London on Monday.

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Farage added, "I have decided to stand aside as leader of Ukip. The victory for the 'leave' side in the referendum means that my political ambition has been achieved. I came into this struggle from business because I wanted us to be a self-governing nation, not to become a career politician."

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"UKIP is in a good position and will continue, with my full support to attract a significant vote. Whilst we will now leave the European Union, the terms of our withdrawal are unclear. If there is too much backsliding by the government and with the Labour party detached from many of its voters then Ukip's best days may be yet to come," he added.

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Farage also said that he hoped there would not be "weakness or, frankly, appeasement" of the EU in the UK's negotiations to leave adding "We need a prime minister who recognises that we've got the trump cards."

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Farage previously resigned as a Ukip leader after not being elected as an MP following the May 2015 general election. However, he soon changed his mind and returned to the job. This would not happen this time, he said.