Carswell rules out Ukip leadership bid

Ukip’s only sitting MP has ruled himself out of the running to be the party’s next leader after the resignation of Nigel Farage.

Douglas Carswell, who held his Clacton seat, praised Mr Farage as a “heroic and inspirational figure” but told the Times: “I am not going to be running as leader.”

Mr Farage said he was taking a break after failing to win his target seat South Thanet, but left the door open for a return.

He said: “There will be a leadership election for the next leader of Ukip in September and I will consider over the course of this summer whether to put my name forward to do that job again.”