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UKIP General Secretary Jonathan Arnott has paid tribute to the 'hard work, dedication and ability' of outgoing UKIP leader Nigel Farage MEP.  Nigel Farage was first elected as a UKIP MEP in 1999 and has served the party continuously since then.  In his resignation speech at lunchtime on Friday, Nigel Farage said that he could not continue to co-lead the EFD group in the European Parliament, serve the public as an MEP and lead the UK Independence Party - at the same time as putting his energy into challenging for the Buckingham seat at the next General Election.

Jonathan Arnott said "Nigel has served the party expertly for many years.  Although there is some sadness that this is the end of an era, Nigel's decision is totally understandable.  Nigel will still be around - and no doubt will continue to generate media coverage." 

A leadership election will now be held in the coming months.