Ukip deputy chairman Diane James has become the first female leader of UKIP following Nigel Farage’s resignation earlier this year.
The MEP took nearly half the votes in the contest, which she led from the start against three other candidates.
However, as James took to the stage to give her victory speech, a rather awkward exchange occured between her and her old boss, with Farage leaning in for a smooch and James openly cringing.
The BBC’s Nick Robinson started off proceedings on Twitter with a caption competition.
Any suggestions for what UKIP's new leader @DianeJamesMEP is thinking as @Nigel_Farage puckers up? pic.twitter.com/QjHoj6TZy4
— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) September 16, 2016
Swiftly followed by more hilarity from the rest of Twitter.
Diane James pic.twitter.com/rkDsW8V46e
— Christopher Ingraham (@_cingraham) September 16, 2016
When you wanna hug your Crush but she Friend-Zones you!#DianeJames #Farage #UKIP pic.twitter.com/TqAsa49QKm
— JammyDodger (@mrjammyjamjar3) September 16, 2016
Maybe the photo meant something deeper?
Diane James is a metaphor for the UK in this photo. https://t.co/NRm2SabNMa
— Dr*T (@Dr_star_T) September 16, 2016
Nigel Farage makes us all feel a bit like Diane James sometimes. pic.twitter.com/C6K96HjlRe
— Stig Abell (@StigAbell) September 16, 2016
Diane James is all of us. pic.twitter.com/oGleo4IAlk
— Aura Antares (@Wandering_Wench) September 16, 2016
Either way, Diane James has been clear on how she feels about stepping into Farage’s shoes.
“I am not Nigel-like, I am not even Nigel-lite. I’ll never ever pretend to be so,” she said. That’s us told.
