Nigel Farage says that he will step down as UKIP leader should he fail to become an MP in the May general election.
Nigel Farage
Mr Farage is running for the South Thanet seat, where he is the favourite to win. However, he may be the favourite, but he has to turn over a Conservative majority to win his seat in the Commons.
And Mr Farage says that it would not be 'credible' for him to remain as the party leader should he fail win his seat - despite being re-elected as leader for another four years last November.
Mr Farage wrote about the consequences of not being elected an MP in The Purple Revolution, which has been serialised in today's Telegraph.
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."
UKIP won their first seat last year when Douglas Carswell won the seat from Clacton. Just a few weeks later, Mark Reckless won a second seat as he won the by-election in Rochester and Strood.
Over the last couple of years, UKIP have seen their popularity increase as people have got behind their immigration ideas. The party is now a major threat at the general election and could take well needed seats away from Labour and the Conservatives.
The balance of power could lie with UKIP should Labour or the Conservatives fail to win a majority in May. In The Purple Revolution, Farage has hinted that a deal with the Tories is a 'possible scenario.'
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