MOSS Side born Steven Woolfe has quit UKIP after saying that the party is ‘ungovernable’ without Nigel Farage as leader.
The North West MEP was considered by many to become the eurosceptic party’s next leader, after the resignation of Diane James last week.
In a statement made yesterday, the MEP said: “It is with deep sorrow and regret that I am aborting my leadership campaign and announcing my resignation from UKIP with immediate effect.”
Woolfe will stay on in the European Parliament as an independent MEP.
The statement also commented about the altercation in Strasbourg last week, that saw the economy spokesperson in hospital.
Woolfe continued to stand by his side of events that it was fellow MEP Mike Hookem that punched him in the meeting: “With regards to the highly regrettable events in Strasbourg, I will reiterate my position that I received a blow from Mr Hookem that knocked me back into the meeting room and caused my subsequent injuries. Contrary to reports, I have made a police complaint.”
Mr Hookem has denied hitting the North West MEP, and the acrimonious fallout from the October 6 incident continued with claims that Mr Woolfe had received warnings about “inappropriate behaviour” from senior party figures.
The result means that there are only four candidates left who have officially declared for the leadership election, with Raheem Kassam now viewed as the leading contender out of that quartet.
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