Diane James becomes UKIP leader

Image copyright AFP

Diane James has been elected as the new leader of the UK Independence Party.

Ms James had been regarded as the favourite to succeed Nigel Farage, who quit as leader following the UK's vote to leave the EU.

The MEP for South East England won with 8,451 votes. Her nearest rival, Lisa Duffy, received 4,591.

Speaking about Brexit, Ms James warned "we have only just won a heat" in a "28-member state Olympic competition to leave the European Union".

"The threats to the referendum outcome are increasing by the day," she said, adding she would reject "Brexit-lite".

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Farage: I have given UKIP my all

To applause at the UKIP conference, she said: "Yes to a 100% European Union exit. Can I be any clearer? Yes to a sovereign independent UK. Yes to a UK free to make trade deals with whoever and whenever we want and yes to an immigration policy that allows entry regardless of origin to those with the skills and the expertise and the social values that this country wants."

She said she was "not Nigel-lite" and would not pretend to be so but would be "stepping into his leadership shoes" to try to continue his political success.

"I believe in UKIP's values of liberty, common sense, democracy and pragmatic approaches to the challenges this country faces."

She said she might use different language and be less frank than Mr Farage but she would be honest and "uphold all the beliefs and values that this party stands for".

'Invoke Article 50'

And in a message to Prime Minister Theresa May she said: "If you're watching this afternoon, you'll be watching the opposition party in waiting." She added: "Get on with it - invoke Article 50."

The former businesswoman and healthcare professional has been the party's home affairs spokeswoman. She saw off four other contenders: Bill Etheridge, Lisa Duffy, Liz Jones and Phillip Broughton.

Mr Farage stood down following the UK's vote to leave the European Union, saying his "political ambition has been achieved".

The face of Euroscepticism in the UK for nearly two decades, he helped turn UKIP from a fringe party into the third biggest in UK politics - in terms of votes at the 2015 general election.

He also helped persuade more than 17 million people to vote to leave the EU.

Mr Farage also stood down briefly as leader in 2009, but was re-elected the following year.

He said he would quit after failing to win his seat at the 2015 general election, but stayed on after the party rejected his resignation.

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