Nigel Farage will quit as Ukip leader if he fails to become MP in general election

NIGEL Farage has warned he will step down as Ukip leader if he fails to become an MP at the general election in May, declaring it would be "curtains for me."

Nigel Farage says he will step down if he fails to gain seat at general election GETTY

Nigel Farage says he will step down if he fails to gain seat at general election

Was 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

Nigel Farage

Research has indicated he is on course for victory in South Thanet but the euro-sceptic party leader will have to overturn a Conservative majority of nearly 17 per cent.

But the party leader admitted failing to secure the Kent seat would have "significant" consequences for both him and his party. 

He said it is "frankly just not credible" for him to stay at the top of the party if he failed in two months. 

Mr Farage was elected for a four year term in November, but in the latest extract from his book In The Purple Revolution, serialised in the Daily Telegraph, he said it would be "curtains" for his tenure at the helm of Ukip. 

He wrote:"The consequences of me failing to secure a seat for myself in the Commons would be significant for both myself and the party.

"It is frankly just not credible for me to continue to lead the party without a Westminster seat."

"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?

"Was 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."

Nigel Farage was elected a a four year term as Ukip leader in November PA

Nigel Farage was elected a a four year term as Ukip leader in November

Mr Farage says he had to  delay the start of his campaigning in South Thanet after the surprise defections of former Tories Douglas Carswell and Mark Reckless, which sparked by-elections in Clacton and Rochester and Strood.

He wrote: "By the tim Mark was safely elected back in Rochester and Strood, this time as a Ukip MP, it was almost Christmas. 

"So it was not until the cold, dark and alcohol-free days of early January that I was able to properly concentrate on trying to campaign and win a seat for myself in South Thanet." 

And Mr Farrage went on to say, " I cannot win this seat on my own."

"But I think I can win it if I can show that I am part of a big, strong, active local team to support them, that is enthusiastic and capable."

He added: "While we are trying to keep well away from negative campaigning, the flak against me is quite substantial and I suspect it will only get worse the closer we get to the election.

"The other parties are obsessed with me not winning a Westminster seat and I can only hope that the hits on me will take the heat off the other Ukip target seats."

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