Nigel Farage announces resignation and by-election bid amid donation probe
British politician Nigel Farage said he will resign his seat in Parliament and stand again in a by-election, citing media pressure and an investigation into a large crypto-related donation.
Nigel Farage said on Tuesday that he will vacate his parliamentary seat for Clacton and trigger a by-election, planning to run again for the same constituency. He told reporters he intends to "fight to win" and framed the contest as a challenge between ordinary voters and the political establishment.
The move comes as Farage faces a parliamentary standards inquiry into a donation of more than $6 million from a cryptocurrency entrepreneur received before he took office. He denied any legal breach, stating, "Making money is not a crime. I have done nothing wrong. I have not broken the law. I have not misused public money."
Farage, who leads the Reform UK party, has seen his party rise in national polls amid broader dissatisfaction with the economy and traditional parties. He previously served as leader of UKIP and the Brexit Party before they merged into Reform UK.
The investigation also includes scrutiny of support provided by associate George Cottrell, who previously faced allegations of money-laundering. Farage has rejected claims of wrongdoing and said he will need security funding for the future. The date of the by-election has not yet been set.
