UK 2016: A nation of quitters
UKIP leader Nigel Farage, Top Gear host Chris Evans the latest to throw in the towel.
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Hawke’s Bay
The "fight them on the beaches" spirit seems lacking in the UK in 2016.
First, David Cameron said he would resign as prime minister and leader of the Conservative Party before its October conference.
Then his presumed successor, Boris Johnson, threw in the towel at the first obstacle.
Roy Hodgson quit as manager of the England football team, and no one wants to take his place.
Now, today comes with news of two more with limited fighting spirit.
New Top Gear host Chris Evans is leaving the series amid low ratings and rumored "he goes or I go" tension with co-presenter Matt LeBlanc.
And, more surprisingly, Nigel Farage (52) has quit as leader of the UK Independence Party.
The UKIP man said he had achieved his political goal with Brexit, and it was time to take a break.
“During the referendum, I said I wanted my country back … now I want my life back," he said.
Given that the referendum was not legally binding, and many hurdles lie ahead before the UK can negotiate its exit from the EU, his timing is curious. The type of populist rhetoric required to keep moving things along takes a real knack. There's a gulf between a Winston Peters and a Ron Mark. It seems unlikely Farage's successor will have the same ability to fire up the mob.
But at least he's now free to apply to be the next Top Gear host.
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UK 2016: A nation of quitters
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