Nigel Farage will not step down as UKIP leader, the Independent reports. Why? Because his party will not let him go:

Nigel Farage will stay on as Ukip leader, despite announcing he would stand down after failing to be elected as an MP in last week’s election.
His resignation was “unanimously rejected” by Ukip’s National Executive Committee after canvassing the views of Ukip members, who “overwhelmingly” wanted him to remain in place.
Mr Farage has now withdrawn his resignation and will continue as leader of Ukip, the party announced.
It comes just days after saying he was “a man of my word” when he confirmed he was standing down after failing to win the South Thanet constituency.

If Farage had no agency of his own, this would be a convincing explanation. But he does. So it’s not. Whatever happened to, “If drafted, I will not run; if nominated, I will not accept; if elected, I will not serve”?

This photograph of “UKIP’s new leader” — which did the rounds in Britain after Farage announced his resignation – now looks rather prescient: