Nigel Farage: quit his seat in Parliament and seek reelection

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage announced that he will quit his seat in Parliament and seek reelection in an effort to clear his name over financial allegations linked to millions of pounds worth of donations.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage faces a parliamentary standards investigation about undeclared and potentially rule-breaking donations.

These include a 5 million pound gift he received from a Thailand-based cryptocurrency billionaire.

A finding of wrongdoing could lead to Farage being suspended or expelled from Parliament.

But he has made the first move by triggering an election for his seaside seat of Clacton in eastern England.

In a speech announcing the by-election, Farage denied any wrongdoing.

Reform UK Leader NIGEL FARAGE: "I have done nothing wrong. I have not broken the law in any way at all. I have not misused public money."

Farage vented his anger over what he described as a "pile-on" by Britain's liberal elite.

He called his move "a people versus the establishment by-election."

Farage's risky strategy, lauded by members of his party as a clever way to try to avoid facing any sanction from an investigation by the parliamentary watchdog, could backfire.

The UK's main political parties described the move as showing Farage crumbling under the pressure of scrutiny, and the governing Labour Party, Conservatives and other parties said they would not run a candidate in the election in Clacton, although novelty candidate Count Binface says he is ready to take on Farage.

British Prime Minister KEIR STARMER: "This is a desperate stunt from Nigel Farage, and it's obvious why he's doing it.

He is up to his neck in sleaze. Politics should be about improving the lives of millions of people, not about personal gain, not about hiding dodgy donations, and I think the public will see this for exactly what it is."

However, the manoever will allow Farage to test out a strategy before a national election due in 2029.

Reform UK have gained popularity in recent years amid growing frustration with mass migration, something Farage has pledged to tackle.