Reform UK leader and member of parliament Nigel Farage speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2025. On Tuesday, he resigned his seat to force an election. File Photo by Will Oliver/UPI | License Photo
July 7 (UPI) -- British right-wing member of parliament Nigel Farage resigned his seat Tuesday to force a by-election after investigations into his finances.
Farage will be a candidate in the election in the surprise race, which is meant to boost his support among constituents in Clacton, which he has represented since 2024.
"I thought about it hard, and I've decided today, I will resign as a member of parliament for Clacton on Sea, thereby forcing a by-election," Farage said in a televised statement, Politico reported. "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," he said.
Farage is under investigation by Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg. The probe is focused on whether Farage broke House of Commons rules when he didn't declare a $6.9 million donation from British-Thai crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.
