article: But who are the contenders to replace him as leader of a party that won 12% of the vote in the last general election? The 48-year-old barrister is a rising star in the party, holding the high-profile immigration and financial affairs brief, and one of UKIP's most accomplished media performers. Announcing his leadership bid, he promised to tackle social mobility by backing 50 new grammar schools in deprived areas of the UK and to chase Labour's vote "ruthlessly." Thought to be Nigel Farage's favoured successor, he dismissed as "absolute nonsense" suggestions that his leadership bid could be derailed amid reports that his UKIP membership lapsed between the end of 2014 and early 2016 - party rules require candidates to have been members for two years. Born in Manchester, with African-American, Jewish and Irish Catholic roots, he is also head of the party's Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) association. After being called to the bar, he practised in criminal law before moving into commercial practice, advising hedge funds and other City businesses on regulatory issues. He joined UKIP in 2010 and was elected as MEP for North West England in 2014. He contested the Stockport constituency in the 2015 general election, where he came third despite boosting the UKIP vote by 10%. Although not a well-known figure in Westminster circles, Lisa Duffy has won the backing of key modernising figures in the party such as Suzanne Evans and Patrick O'Flynn. Ms Duffy is a town and district councillor in Cambridgeshire, a former mayor of the town of Ramsey and as campaigns director, played a key role in fighting by-elections. At her campaign launch, Ms Duffy, 48, a mother of six and former retail manager, pitched herself as the "grassroots candidate" who would "walk the People's Army into Westminster". Chief of staff to MEP Mr O'Flynn, she joined UKIP in 2004 and stood unsuccessfully against Labour's Hazel Blears in Salford in the 2005 general election. She said the party needed to widen its appeal to win seats in 2020 but also continue to tackle "taboo subjects" such as the impact of immigration on British communities and the need for a positive vision for "modernised British Islam". The North East UKIP MEP has thrown his hat into the leadership race, saying he wants to be a "strong and credible voice for the North East". The 35-year-old was elected to the European Parliament in 2014 and is a former general secretary of the party. Announcing his candidacy, he said he wanted to appeal to the millions of voters who did not support UKIP in last year's general election, but backed Brexit in the EU referendum. He warned that the elevation of Theresa May to the premiership meant that "negotiations for the UK's withdrawal from the EU will be in the hands of those who do not actually want us to leave". The MEP for the West Midlands, and Dudley councillor, has said UKIP should stick by its "core principles and values" and not be "distracted by negative influences". The 46-year old was a Conservative activist before
summary: Nigel Farage is standing down as leader of UKIP, saying he wants "his life back" after helping to secure a Leave vote in the EU referendum.