Paul Oakden has announced his resignation as UKIP Party Chairman and said overseeing Saturday’s EGM will be his last act before standing down. Oakden said he voluntarily terminated his contract last month. Here’s his statement:

“Being the Chairman of UKIP is an honour and a privilege. It doesn’t come with champagne lunches, a whopping salary or great esteem. What it does bring are thousands of emails and letters, occasional angry members whom it’s just not possible to pacify. Chairing the board, acting as a diplomat between the NEC and a Leader (or five) and generally being the person whose fate it is to disappoint almost everybody.

“That’s the base line, and it expands from there – still, I’m the lucky one for having had the opportunity to do it. One Of the more unenviable tasks is to chair national EGMs, as the one that is taking place this Saturday in Birmingham. Chairing this EGM, however, will be my last act as UKIP Party Chairman.

“At the end of January, I voluntarily terminated the contract that l have with UKIP, bringing my formal employment with the party to an end. This was entirely of my own volition. Earlier today I wrote to the Party Leader and the NEC to notify them of my decision to stand down once the EGM has concluded.”

Over the weekend Oakden denied being part of a “coup” when he sent out an email signed off “interim leader.” Will the last one out turn off the lights?