The UK’s Main Far-Right Lawmaker “Resigned” After It Was Revealed He Accepted Millions From A Convict
Farage was stepping down as MP for Clacton but said he would stand again for the same seat, saying he wanted voters to decide his future.
UK far-right politician Nigel Farage has resigned as a member of parliament after facing questions over receiving millions of pounds in financial support but said he will run again in a by-election triggered by his own resignation.
Farage became one of the most influential figures in British politics after helping lead the campaign for the UK to leave the EU, also known as Brexit, in 2016.
He returned to frontline politics in 2024 as leader of the far-right Reform UK party, which grewpopularity by campaigning heavily on anti-immigration and presenting itself as an alternative to both the Conservative and Labour parties.
Farage was elected as an MP for the first time in July 2024, winning the constituency of Clacton in eastern England with 46.2% of the vote.
In June 2024, weeks before Farage stood for election, he received about US$6.7 million from British-Thai billionaire Christopher Harborne, one of Reform UK's biggest financial donors and one of the largest shareholders in the cryptocurrency company Tether.
Under the rules of the House of Commons, new MPs must register any gifts or financial benefits connected to their political activities that they received in the 12 months before their election, but Farage did not declare Harborne's money.
Farage has denied wrongdoing and said he did not need to declare the money because it was a personal gift given before he entered parliament.
Farage is also facing questions over financial support from George Cottrell, a close associate and convicted fraudster nicknamed “Posh George.”
The Sunday Times reported that Cottrell paid for staff in Farage’s private office and personal security before Farage became an MP.
Farage announced on July 7 that he was stepping down as MP for Clacton but said he would stand again for the same seat, saying he wanted voters to decide his future.
Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party have all said they will not run candidates in the by-election.
The move means Farage could face little serious opposition, with satirical candidate Count Binface among the few challengers.
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