Nigel Farage has announced he will resign as an MP and force a by-election in Clacton, following intense scrutiny over unregistered donations and support totalling millions of pounds. In a 10-minute video posted on social media, the Reform UK leader accused the media of harassment and declared he would fight a “people versus the establishment” campaign.
Farage Denies Wrongdoing Over £5 Million Gift
Farage is already under investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over a £5 million donation from Reform donor Christopher Harborne, received before he became an MP. In his video, Farage insisted: “I have done nothing wrong. I have not broken the law in any way at all.” He claimed the standards probe was “now being used as a political tool.”
Undeclared Support From Long-Term Ally George Cottrell
The resignation comes after reports that long-term ally George Cottrell provided undeclared funding for security and staffing in the year before Farage was elected. According to reports, Cottrell recruited and paid three staff to work on Farage’s social media before the general election. He has also allowed Farage to use a five-storey Georgian property he rented near Buckingham Palace.
Under Commons rules, new MPs must register any gifts worth more than £300 received in the previous 12 months, unless the gift “could not be reasonably thought by others” to relate to their political activities. Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called for both the Electoral Commission and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to investigate the support from Cottrell.
By-Election Showdown Looms in Clacton
Farage’s decision to quit and force a by-election sets the stage for a bitter contest in Clacton, which he won at the general election. He framed the vote as a battle against the establishment, vowing to fight the “harassment” he says he has faced from sections of the media. The by-election is expected to be a key test of Reform UK’s support and Farage’s political future.
