UKIP Candidate Kassam Withdraws From Leadership Race

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Raheem Kassam, a former aide to UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, said Monday he had withdrawn his candidacy from the UKIP leadership race and urged his supporters to start backing London mayoral candidate Peter Whittle.

"As of today, I am formally suspending my campaign for UKIP leader. After much consideration, I have decided not to pursue my campaign to be UKIP leader any further… It is a decision I have not taken lightly, but following meetings this weekend I realised the path to victory is too narrow. I would encourage my supporters to back Peter Whittle, who I think would make a fantastic leader of the party," Kassam said in a statement published on his website.

UKIP’s former leader, Farage, who campaigned for Brexit, resigned on July 4 after achieving his long-awaited goal of the United Kingdom withdrawing from the European Union. Farage said he would return as UKIP's interim leader until an election could be held to find successor for former UKIP leader-elect Diane James in early October.

The party said in a press release issued earlier in October said that the new leader would be elected by November 28.