On the morning of the historic victory for the 'Leave' campaign I called on the Prime Minister to resign. Within a hour or two David Cameron had done so. I was more than a little surprised – after all, he has rarely listened to me in the past. Now we learn that no plans had been made to deal with the result, that surprise has gone.

He had called a referendum, due in part to the pressure from Ukip. With his customary mix of arrogance and complacency, he had failed to plan for a result he believed could never happen.

Indeed, this catastrophic dereliction of duty on behalf of Mr Cameron and the Treasury has resulted in the very short-term instability that they had predicted. These failures should result in the Chancellor being fired, let alone resigning. Public opprobrium is not enough.

Nigel Farage (pictured) writes that he called for the Prime Minister to resign on the morning of the historic victory for the 'Leave' campaign

It is not, as some claim, those on the Leave side who have deserted their posts, it is the Government that has failed the people and in the most disgraceful way.

But that desertion of posts has thrown up a huge opportunity for a new leader of the country. And a new emphasis in policy.

Our next Prime Minister will have the chance to grasp the myriad opportunities provided by our nation's new independence. She will be able to encourage our entrepreneurs and unshackle our businesses, while reducing the pressure on our public services and rebuilding our strained communities. What an opportunity for the right person!

Now we are down to the last two and what is wonderfully unremarkable is that the next Prime Minister will be a woman. Given that the policies the last one saved the country from decline and political melancholia, the auguries are good.

Like most of the rest of the country, I hardly knew anything of Andrea Leadsom before she signed up for 'Leave'. The first time I observed her was at a debate way back in March. Back then she was a little defensive of the Prime Minister who had given her Ministerial office, but there were flashes of a keen mind and an honest and pragmatic belief in Brexit.

We shared a stage again at a debate two months later. And how she had grown: the shackles of caution had been discarded and she was poised and confident.

On both these occasions I found her very open, straightforward and even friendly. Something unusual in a traditional politician.

By contrast, I've always found the Home Secretary very cold.

I've never met anyone, no matter how long or how closely they have worked with her, who can claim to know her, or what makes her tick. I believe that it is important that the country can get a feel for the character of their leader. Mrs May might as well be made of alabaster.

Mr Farage said that he 'hardly knew anything' about Andrea Leadsom (left) before she signed up for 'Leave'. He also writes that he has always found Theresa May (right) 'very cold'

More importantly, we have to ask where this hidden heart is on the great issue of the day. The Brexit vote was the biggest vote in our lifetime and Mrs May failed the test.

Some say she really wants Brexit, but if true then I believe her actions showed cowardice. If she actually believed in our county's liberty – and remember there were suggestions she would be leading the Out campaign for a few short hours back in February, then she should have done so.

Her Brexit credentials are based on one speech where, to cover up the abject failure of her department to control immigration, she threw a few bits of red meat to Tory Conference. Some papers, desperate to believe she might mean anything of which she speaks, leap to her support as a potential leader. Such conviction will, I think, soon vanish, deflating like foam on Dymchurch beach.

Either way we need a post-Brexit referendum Government with the same level of vision and radicalism, if not the policies, of the Thatcher Government of 1979. The ailments are different and so must the prescription be. But it is certainly the time for similar vision and drive.

For me, the acid test is which candidate is most likely to get back control of our territorial waters. Something our so-called European partners will fight tooth and nail against. I do not see Mrs May having the courage to do what is necessary to claim back the internationally recognised 200-mile fishing limit.

Mrs Leadsom may lack Cabinet experience, but I can attest to the fact that she has the guts.

A May government that hesitated to invoke Article 50 and didn't have the courage to end the free movement of people would be a massive thing for Ukip by the 2020 Election. She would open up parts of the country to our message where we have previously struggled to register.