Diane James quits as head of Britain`s UK Independence Party

London: Diane James quit as head of Britain`s UK Independence Party on Tuesday, citing "personal and professional reasons" for stepping down just 18 days after her election as leader.

"It has become clear that I do not have sufficient authority, nor the full support of all my MEP colleagues and party officers to implement changes I believe necessary and upon which I based my campaign," James said in a statement published on her Twitter account.

"For personal and professional reasons, therefore, I will not take the election process further," she added.