In a surprising turn of events, Nigel Farage announced today he will replace Richard Tice as leader of Reform UK and will stand as a candidate in Clacton, Essex, in the upcoming election on July 4. This comes less than two weeks after he declared he would not run.
Farage, the former UKIP leader, addressed a press conference in London, explaining his change of heart. “Difficult though it is, I can’t let down those millions of people, I simply can’t do it, it’d be wrong,” he stated. “So I have decided I’ve changed my mind, it’s allowed you know, it’s not always a sign of weakness, it could potentially be a sign of strength. So I am going to stand in this election.”
Farage’s initial reluctance stemmed from his commitment to aiding Donald Trump’s re-election campaign in the United States. On May 23, he insisted he would focus solely on the US presidential race, citing the impracticality of managing both campaigns within the limited timeframe.
However, in a subsequent interview with GB News, Farage expressed “huge regrets” about his decision not to stand. This regret led him to reconsider, culminating in his announcement today. “Richard [Tice] is more than happy for me to put my head and shoulders firmly over the parapet and take the flack so I’m coming back as leader of Reform UK, but not just for this election campaign. I’m coming back for the next five years,” Farage declared.
Farage’s return to frontline politics is intended to invigorate what he described as the “dullest, most boring election campaign we have ever seen in our lives.” He criticized the two major parties, saying, “The more the two big party leaders try to be different, the more they actually sound the same.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak responded to Farage’s announcement, stating that a vote for Reform UK is essentially a vote for Labour. At a campaign event in Oxfordshire, Sunak emphasised the stakes of the election, asserting, “At the end of the day on July 5, one of two people will be prime minister, either Keir Starmer or me. A vote for anyone who is not a Conservative candidate is just a vote to put Keir Starmer in No 10.”
Farage’s entry into the race undoubtedly adds a new dynamic to the election, as he seeks to leverage his political experience and rally support for Reform UK. His candidacy in Clacton, a constituency with a history of supporting Brexit, will be closely watched as the campaign unfolds.
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