Nigel Farage dramatically resigned as an MP on Tuesday in a raging diatribe in which he said he was “angrier than I’ve ever been”.In doing so he’ll force a high-stakes by-election in his Clacton constituency amid allegations of failing to declare financial donations.Mr Farage used a televised address, which was aired on Sky News without being edited or vetted by staff first, in which to attack the British media.He said that an article that appeared in the Sunday Times appeared to show where his family lived.Mr Farage said he was “angrier than I’ve ever been” at the recent attacks on him and alleged intrusion on his private life.Suggesting he contemplated walking away altogether, he said: “I could go out and try and make some real big money. I could go to the USA where I’ve got plenty of offers.“And then I thought, why should I be judged today or in the future by Sky News or the media? Why should they be the people that decide my fate when as I repeat I’ve done nothing wrong?“I’ve thought about it hard and I’ve decided about it today, today I will resign as a Member of parliament for Clacton-and-Sea, thereby forcing a by-election which would happen I hope in short order.“I’ve decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions.“And that is why I will be putting my name forward to stand in this by-election. I will fight to win.”In recent months, Mr Farage has faced scrutiny over donations with calls for him to face several probes into his financial affairs.He being investigated by Parliament‘s standards adviser who is probing a £5 million gift he was given by Christopher Harborne, a crypto-billionaire.He has also come under intense scrutiny over allegations that convicted criminal George Cottrell gave him funding for security and staffing in the year before his election.Labour has called for an Electoral Commission probe to investigate the matter.Mr Farage won his Clacton seat with a majority of 8,405 at the 2024 election, winning 46 per cent of the vote as the Tories lost the constituency.He is the 1/8 favourite to retain the seat according to snap odds from Betfair.Mr Farage said: “I will fight to win. I will fight to continue the political revolution that Reform has started, and I would say this to you, the voters of Clacton: if I win, you win, because if I lose, they win, and we will never, with the two old parties, get the type of fundamental change that we need to fix broken Britain.”The Reform leader is still well ahead in the opinion polls and odds-on to win the next general election.Even if he retains Clacton he could face yet another by-election if Parliament’s Standards Commissioner finds he has broken the rules.Mr Farage appeared to snap at a reporter yesterday who questioned him about the Cottrell affair.Today he hit out at the ongoing scrutiny by the media and framed the by-election as “a people versus the Establishment” contest.Labour accused Farage of using the broadcast to “play the victim” as he triggered the contest.Anna Turley, Labour Party chair, said: “Imagine getting a free party political broadcast on all news broadcasters to play the victim when you’ve broken all the rules.”Rival right-winger Rupert Lowe, who left Reform UK after a fallout with Farage, said: “Farage has proven one thing today and one thing only – everything that he does is about one person. Nigel Farage. “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.”The Sunday Times revealed Mr Farage failed to declare benefits he received from George Cottrell including staff, security and the use of a property.Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde urged the parliamentary standards commissioner to investigate the Reform leader’s behaviour. Mr Cottrell pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was jailed in the US.It comes as Reform UK continues to poll highly with the party leading Westminster polls at 25 per cent, according to YouGov.The ruling Labour Party has been lagging behind at just 20 per cent amid leadership turmoil, with Andy Burnham now set to replace Sir Keir Starmer in the top job.As the row around gifts unfolded Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick battered away any allegations of wrongdoing and claimed Mr Farage did not need to report the donation.A Reform spokesman said: “George Cottrell is an unpaid volunteer with no formal role at Reform UK, like many thousands of party members.“The business card was designed to help donors or other members of the public easily get in touch with Nigel Farage’s office. It was not intended to suggest any formal position or authority.”MPs must declare any “financial interests” from the 12 months before they are elected to parliament.Labour and the Tories have seized on the latest revelation as ammunition to attack Mr Farage. The Reform UK leader revealed shortly after midday that he would be making a statement “on my future in public life” but gave no further details.Farage first became a member of the European parliament in 1999 and stayed in Brussels until the UK left the EU in 2020.He attempted to be an MP on several occasions but only entered Westminster in 2024 representing Clacton. He spearheaded the Leave campaign for the UK to leave the EU in 2016.- With The Sun