One Song After Another

While they had to scrap the UKIP Calypso pretty quickly, the party currently known as No Direction continue to play the hokey cokey with some aplomb.

So, just 18 days after election, Diane James shuffles out the door. The old dance master Nigel Farage remains the 'official' leader until the next one is appointed, having spent a sum total of three weeks - and two resignation speeches - out of the job in six years.

Farage is like an old warrior king. Once he shuffles off the princes beneath him squabble over the leadership and can't form a strong, uniting, force. Cue a 'surprising' resurrection of the king, and peace is restored to the land.

At least he managed 18 days 'dead' this time. But what have they got to replace him with?

James was a County Councillor until a loss to her former Tory colleagues less than 18 months ago. Her rise in the party from unseated local councillor to leader has been meteoric, and probably underlines the vacuum of talent in the party generally. Suzanne Evans has been a victim of the infighting that has left the party floundering for a viable candidate, while Stephen Woolfe, who earned the backing of millionaire Aaron Banks, seems to be terrible at deadlines.

Woolfe is an interesting pick as immigration spokesman for a party that is often branded racist. With a mixed background encompassing Irish, Black, and Jewish roots, Woolfe is an unlikely frontman for a party that saw Farage dismiss as 'pub banter' a call from the party secretary for it to welcome bigots.

Well spoken, comfortable in front of the cameras, and well educated, Woolfe is probably the only person that can provide a leadership that - while it might not unite the party - would at least try and turn it away from the screaming lunatic it is dangerously close to becoming.

But, having allowed his membership to lapse and filing his application to be leader late, he was excluded from the previous leadership election. However, when the other serious candidates are former Tory MPs with little backing within the party or country, Woolfe may be the man to - at least - attempt to keep Farage deceased for a while longer.