Farage quits as MP to trigger by-election amid scrutiny over his finances
David Hughes, David Lynch and Nina Lloyd, Press Association
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage announced he will quit as an MP to fight a “people versus the establishment” by-election in protest at the intense scrutiny over unregistered donations of cash and support to him.
The Clacton MP insisted he had done nothing wrong as he accused Westminster opponents of using sleaze investigations as a “political tool” and the media of “haranguing” his family.
Mr Farage is already being investigated by the Commons standards watchdog over an undeclared £5 million gift from Reform donor Christopher Harborne before he entered Parliament and he appeared to confirm he faced another probe over support provided by convicted fraudster George Cottrell.
Long-term ally Mr Cottrell reportedly recruited and paid three staff to work on Mr Farage’s social media before the general election, and has continued to allow him to use a five-storey Georgian property he rented near Buckingham Palace.
Under the Commons’ rules, new MPs are required to register any gifts worth more than £300 they received in the previous 12 months, except where the gift “could not be reasonably thought by others” to relate to their political activities.
Mr Farage is being investigated by the parliamentary standards commissioner over the a £5 million gift from cryptocurrency tycoon Mr Harborne, which he said was needed to fund the security he required as a result of multiple threats against him.
And he said that as a result of the Sunday Times’ investigation into Mr Cottrell, “yet another standards investigation is under way”.
In a video statement, Mr Farage said: “I have done nothing wrong. I have not broken the law in any way at all.”
He said standards investigations by the parliamentary authorities are “now being used as a political tool”.
His resignation will mean Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg’s investigation is suspended – but it will be resumed if Mr Farage wins the by-election and comes back to Parliament.
If he is found to have breached the rules and suspended for more than 10 sitting days it could trigger a recall petition – potentially leading to another Clacton by-election.
Mr Farage lashed out at the media in his statement following Times and Sunday Times investigations and a row with Sky News in recent days.
He said he had “never been angrier in my life” as he complained about media treatment of his family.
Mr Farage said: “For some reason, last week the editor of the Times newspaper decided to publish a picture of where my daughter lives.
“There is no public interest in my daughter whatsoever.”
He claimed she has had “broadcasters haranguing her”, including Sky News.
The Times published a photo of the house as part of an investigation into Mr Farage’s property portfolio.
Sky News said it had made “reasonable efforts” to contact Mr Farage with “legitimate questions to answer”.
“We acknowledge that Sky News was part of a broadcast pool operation outside a property linked to Mr Farage yesterday,” the broadcaster said.
“We approached the property off-camera on a single occasion, identified ourselves, and the occupant chose not to engage.”
Mr Farage said he would not be “judged” by the media, adding: “I’ve decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions.
“This will be a ‘people versus the establishment’ by-election.
“It’s a chance to stick two fingers up to the entire establishment to frankly tell them where to go, and that is why I will be putting my name forward to stand in this by-election.”
He said Reform had offered to cover the cost – which could exceed £200,000 – as “given that we asked for this by-election in the first place, it’s only right that we pay for it”.
Mr Farage comfortably won Clacton in 2024 with a majority of 8,405 and taking 46.2% of the vote.
It is not yet clear whether the other main Westminster parties will boycott the by-election, although Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey dismissed it as a “stunt”.
Mr Farage’s rival, Rupert Lowe, leader of Restore Britain, said: “The people of Clacton do not need a media circus descending on their town over a busy tourist season because their MP has made a series of bad decisions.”
He said the party would not stand a candidate in the “unnecessary sham”.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said: “Nigel Farage is once again trying to con the public with this stunt – trying to duck the fact that his history of taking dodgy donations is finally catching up with him.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Farage’s announcement was “a desperate stunt” from a man “up to his neck in sleaze”.
And Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed his actions as a “hissy fit”.
She said Mr Farage should “man up and answer some questions” instead of triggering an “ego by-election”.
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He should quit leadership of reform. He cannot be allowed to be in charge of a political party any more.
Unfortunately he is the majority shareholder.
I suspect that’s actually what he wants and this is just a convoluted way of doing it while saving face. Nigel has always been someone who enjoys campaigning and agitating and being a talking head, but he’s never cared about the boring every day work of being a politician. The £5mil scandal has given him an excuse to get out, while also taking a parting shot at Burnham for not being “brave” like him and calling a general election. Nigel knows there will be tactical voting against him, he knows he will lose, but he can milk it and save… Read more »
Trying to avoid scrutiny on his bungs he now costs the UK tax payer more money because he is a political coward.
If he wins, still want to know where his money comes from.
lots not standing against him?
blokes an idiot.
Oh, hello
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/07/revealed-farages-5m-gift-reported-to-uk-agency-over-money-laundering-concerns
This attention seeking child is now going to cost the taxpayer yet more cash over his own vain posturing. This is a good time to evaluate how little work he has done for his constituents and expose him for taking an MPs salary under false pretences if proven. Yet another financial scandal pending maybe? Rabid Rupe is coming with his kitchen sink and band of overt neo nazis. I wouldn’t wish that on the people of Clacton nor anywhere else but if the person who has been threatening millions with becomming Prime Minister can no longer do so, i’m confident… Read more »
A small price to pay to be rid of the grifting, self-agrandising hate-monger.
He (or rather Reform) has even offered to pay for it, he must know that is against the rules and has all the look of “buying” an election but that won’t matter to the people that vote for him. Upshot is we all pay for him doing this.
That raises other questions as well, if the system took his money, then that is money of dubious source fronting a UK political election.
Again.
Remembering Farage doesn’t want us looking at his ban accounts.
I fail to see what this will prove. He will still be under investigation and will hopefully land up in prison. And if the people of Clacton vote for him a second time they will get all they seserve
I hope the electorate of Clacton reflect on his pathetic attendance rate when they decide whether or not they deserve better
According to Britain Elects he’s polling at 67% in Clacton. They must like having someone high profile who shouts about their frustrations as an MP. He doesn’t get anything done for them.
He spends less time in Clacton than I do in Porthcawl
Farage knows the grift is nearly up. Can’t wait for that weak, greedy man to sling his hook
Faridge cannot take scrutiny, his answer is to runaway, pity there is not a fridge to run into like Johnson all those years ago.
He’s just prolonging the inevitable. What a victim statement.
What bit of being paid to be an MP does he not get?
After all the undeserved publicity the press has given him over the years you’d think he’d have shown a bit more gratitude.
You don’t show gratitude for things that are your natural due as a Nietzschean Superman. You just show furious resentment when those born to be underlings let you down. See also Trump. They genuinely feel like victims when things don’t go their way: the order of the universe is broken. Johnson has something of this cast of mind too, though he’s less thin-skinned than Farage and Trump, and doesn’t go in for some of their antics.
A stunt!
Rhyming slang?
I notice he wasn’t even in Clacton to announce his resignation. Hasn’t held one surgery there apparently. There’ll be plenty for opposition candidates to highlight about his appalling performance as Clacton’s MP and his workshy approach to Parliament. Scrutiny, scrutiny and yer more scrutiny should be the order of the day for this charlatan and his dodgy mates. If Clacton elect him again they will be a laughing stock.
As I’ve said in another comment: polling at 67% support. He expects to win.
I hope he is wrong but something is going to have to happen to revolutionise Clacton’s views.
Nigel, Jo Cox and David Amess paid the ultimate sacrifice, not you, you jumped up twerp.
Indeed. Perhaps Stephen Timms could have a word, having been seriously injured but luckily not killed in a murderous knife attack.
The other parties should call his bluff by refusing to contest the seat, giving the people of Clacton a bun-fight between him and Count Binface!
If Restore and the Cons run against him then an anti-Reform unity candidate might dislodge him. Otherwise all the main parties could agree to sit it out as a performative stunt.
Need someone people can trust like Martin Bell in 1990s who stood against Neil Hamilton and his small bags of cash.
Not when he wins IF he will not win thank God but just as bad will be a Tory win he will be of to the land of hate with his Yankee fascist friends and of course his criminal friend Trump from there he will spread his hate to the U K make millions the new LORD HAW HAW
It’s Nigel ‘Me! Me! Me! Me! Me!’ Farage at his finest.
If he is as innocent as he claims – then there was no need to quit. Just like Johnson his day of reckoning has finally arrived.
Can’t stand this narcissist.
I hate to say this though , whatever we think of him, if he wins well and play on the ‘ people v establishment’ banner , it could work out perfectly for him. I say ‘ it could ‘. A huge risk for him , yes . It could be a clever tact from his perspective or possibly a completely stupid thing to do. Time will tell …
Anti establishment, my bottom . Privately educated at a posh school, high paid job in the city, in politics since the 90s and by his own admission has earned about 2 million from other jobs since being elected as an MP. In addition to that he owns several houses and has his own platform on a tv station owned by a billionaire. He IS the establishment.
I think you have misunderstood my post. I agree , he is the establishment. What he has done successfully I’m afraid is played on the ‘ I am the anti establishment’ guy ( which is a lie , yes ) in the past and people have fallen for it. It’s a good chance he will do it again and succeed in this election , I’m afraid. But we shall see..
Might only have count binface to stand against him.
Wonder what the odds are.on Nigel being ousted by Count Binface.
Wow! Now I see that none of the main parties will stand , interesting and clever by them too ! They had us all there ! Farage a bit stuck now ! What’s his next move i wonder? .. This is fun!
He doesn,t want to win.
As an mp he,s under the microscope.
Outside not so , he,s still making money, he,s an anti establishment martur, and any really incriminating stuff that would torpedo him and his business, reform stays hidden.
Well done to the Reform voters.
They’ve really screwed everything up in a really expensive manner.
Every single Refom candidate seems have some sort of cloud over them and it’s caused chaos.
Funnily enough, it’s exactly what Putin wants.