British populist leader Nigel Farage announced he is resigning his spot in Parliament only to run in the upcoming election for the same seat.
The Reform UK leader resigned on Tuesday after the revelation of his ties to cryptocurrency entrepreneur George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster who provided him with financial and security support before his election to Parliament, the BBC reported. The same day, Farage decided to run again to defend his seat in what he dubbed a “people versus the establishment” race.
“I have spoken to the CEO of Tendring District Council. Reform has offered to cover the cost of the by-election,” Farage wrote in a Tuesday X post.
“I’m not frightened of Andy Burnham or any of the other Labour Party stooges,” Farage said on his Substack.
Burnham, who returned to Parliament in a June by-election, is currently running unopposed to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer as Labour Party leader.
Farage further aims to strengthen his support against Burnham and build momentum for an earlier general election, according to GB News.
“I will make a statement on Nigel Farage’s hissy fit resignation at 3.35pm,” Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, wrote on X.
“Today Conservatives voted to stop rapists, paedophiles and child groomers being released from prison early,” Badenoch later wrote in the statement posted to X. “Reform, Lib Dems, and nearly all Labour MPs couldn’t be bothered to vote. While Farage threw a hissy fit, Conservatives were protecting women and girls.”
Spokespersons for Farage, Reform UK, the Labour Party and the Conservative Party each did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment.
Contrell is alleged to have been a financial backer of Farage and paid for his security before he entered Parliament, according to the Guardian. He was sentenced to eight months in prison and fined $30,000 for one count of wire fraud in 2017, despite originally facing 20 years for 21 counts of fraud and money laundering.
“I falsely claimed that I would launder the criminal proceeds through my bank accounts for a fee,” George Contrell said, according to the BBC.
(DCNF)