Nigel Farage described the contest as "people versus the establishment", while opponents called it a political stunt to deflect attention from the allegations.
Britain's Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage leaves the party headquarters in Millbank in London, Britain, Jul 7, 2026. (Photo: REUTERS/Jack Taylor)
08 Jul 2026 02:20AM
LONDON: Nigel Farage, leader of the populist Reform UK party, said on Tuesday (Jul 7) he was standing down to fight again for his place in parliament, in what he called a war against an establishment bent on discrediting him with accusations about his finances.After weeks of facing accusations he had failed to properly declare millions of pounds worth of gifts from wealthy backers, Farage used a televised announcement to vent his anger over what he described as a "pile-on" by Britain's liberal elite."I've decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions," he said, announcing his decision to step down only to trigger an election in the southeastern English area where he was first elected to parliament in 2024."This will be a people versus the establishment by-election," he said. "It is a chance to stick two fingers up to the entire establishment."
