Nigel Farage has announced he will quit as an MP to fight a “people versus the establishment” by-election in a bid to prove his mandate with voters following intense scrutiny over his finances.
He is facing a parliamentary probe over support provided to him by convicted criminal George Cottrell and is also under investigation over a £5million gift from Thai-based crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne.
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.
Aristocrat Cottrell, 32, 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.
Mr Farage claimed parliamentary standards investigations are “now being used as a political tool” and suggested “the establishment” had chosen to use “foul means” to beat Reform UK.
He also lashed out at the media for allegedly “haranguing” his family.
“I have done nothing wrong," he said. "I have not broken the law in any way at all. I have not misused public money, and you know, for the first two years of being an MP, my personal MP expenses are zero...Parliament has its rules about how members ought to behave.
“And I believe I've absolutely obeyed those rules and done so under getting good legal advice.”
He added: “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.”
But political rivals slammed the decision as a "stunt" and accused Mr Farage of throwing a "hissy fit".
Questions were also raised about the cost of holding the poll, which is expected to be about £450,000.
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Mr Farage insisted Reform UK would cover the costs, however a Labour source said: "A political figure paying for a by-election he is standing in would clearly undermine the independence of the democratic process. It's baffling that he can’t see that."
His resignation will mean Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg’s investigation is suspended – but it will be resumed if Mr Farage wins 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.”
He comfortably won the seat in 2024 with a majority of 8,405 and taking 46.2% of the vote.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey dismissed the by-election as a “stunt” and called on other parties to refuse to take part.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has also confirmed her party will not stand a candidate and branded Mr Farage's actions a “hissy fit”.
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 added: “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”.
Ms Badenoch said Mr Farage should “man up and answer some questions” instead of triggering an “ego by-election”.