Farage must ‘answer some questions’ over finances says Badenoch as he quits as MP to be ‘judged by the people’ in by-election

Nigel Farage is under pressure tonight to reveal his finances after stepping down as an MP. triggering a by-election and promising to let voters ‘be the judge of my actions’.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch was among those who questioned the Reform leader’s decision. Clacton resigned his seat while official investigations continued into cash and financial aid from two wealthy allies.

Mr Farage said he would ask voters for a new mandate, without asking questions about allegations about his private finances that have triggered formal Parliamentary investigations.

Upon notice, a report was made to the authorities. His long-term ally George Cottrell – a convicted fraudster known as ‘Posh George’ – provided undisclosed funds for security and staff recruitment, as well as the use of a house in Westminster, in the year before he was elected.

Parliament’s standards commissioner, Daniel Greenberg, is already investigating the £5 million gift the MP received from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.

Speaking for more than 20 minutes on social media this afternoon, Mr Farage said he had ‘never been so angry’ and claimed he was the most vilified British politician of recent times.

He denied any wrongdoing and claimed he was the target of a ‘stitch’; This claim was also confirmed by US President Donald Trump last night.

But tIn the afternoon, Ms Badenoch accused him of ‘cracking under pressure’ and told him to ‘man up’ and answer the questions he faced rather than trigger an ‘ego byelection’.

She also refused to confirm her party would stand in the by-election, telling Politico: ‘There should not be a by-election on his terms. If the investigation finds him guilty, what needs to happen is a by-election…’

Reform leader lashes out at “establishment” as he announces he will quit his seat in Clacton and seek a new mandate from voters in Essex

Mr Farage won Clacton in 2024 with a majority of 8,405 votes, leaving the Conservatives a distant second.

Under parliamentary rules, his decision to resign his seat and trigger a by-election would suspend the investigations, but if he is re-elected the investigation would restart and, if it goes against him, a second by-election could potentially be held in the autumn or winter.

Restore leader Rupert Lowe also said his party would not nominate a candidate, while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it was a “desperate stunt” by a man.He was covered in dirt up to his neck.

In a long, wide-ranging speech broadcast on television, Mr Farage protested his innocence, saying he ‘did nothing wrong… I did not break the law in any way’.

‘I have now decided that the people of Clacton must be the judge of my actions. “In this by-election, the people will be against the establishment,” he said.

‘This is a chance to stick up two fingers to clearly tell the entire Establishment where they’re going and that’s why I’m going to put my name forward to be a candidate in this by-election… I’m going to fight to win.’

The Sunday Times reported this weekend that Mr. Cottrell, who is convicted of fraud in the United States, provided funds for staff, security and the use of a townhouse in London.

Critics said it should have been declared under Parliamentary rules in force when Mr Farage was elected in 2024; Under these rules, new MPs were required to record gifts worth more than £300 they had received in the previous 12 months, unless the gift could ‘reasonably be considered by others to be related to their political activities’.

Mr Cottrell reportedly hired and paid three people to work on Mr Farage’s social media before the General Election and continued to let him use the five-storey Georgian property he rented near Buckingham Palace.

Nigel Farage is under the heaviest pressure he has faced in his time as Reform leader following reports that his long-term ally George Cottrell provided undisclosed funds for security and staff in the year before he was elected.

If the inquiry finds the Reform leader and suspends him from the Commons for more than 30 days, he will be subject to a recall petition by voters, which could trigger a second by-election.

Labor and the Liberal Democrats have demanded that parliament launch a shoddy investigation into the latest allegations.

Mr Farage insisted the £5million gift he received from Christopher Harborne was given to him ‘unconditionally’.

He criticized the Sunday Times investigation into his finances, saying: ‘Standards are now being used as a political tool.

‘The gift was given to me unconditionally. “I can do exactly what I want with this money, but there is a much bigger reason why I need that money, and that’s just that,” he said.

‘For over 20 years I have been subjected to constant demonization by the press for daring to stand outside the consensus on many issues.

‘I was attacked again and again. I am the most physically and verbally attacked public figure or politician of modern times.

‘Yes, you’ll know about some of the incidents, the milkshakes thrown at my face, the banners hit at my head, but I promise you, you only know a tiny fraction of the times I’ve been attacked.’

It comes after Mr Farage clashed with Sky TV staff as he returned to the UK from the US last night.

Mr Farage reacted angrily when asked whether it was a mistake not to disclose the gifts, saying: ‘If you tell your bosses you will harass my family again…serious consequences. That’s what your organization is doing this morning. Go away.’

Sky said it had not contacted anyone from Mr Farage’s family about the story.

managed to win support Donald Trump After last night’s transatlantic cruise. The US President, a long-term ally, appeared to reiterate his claim that he was the victim of a ‘corporate job’.

In a post on the Truth Social platform on Monday, Trump shared a link to an article on The National Pulse website titled ‘They Are Running 2024 Anti-Trump Playbook About Nigel Farage’.

The article accuses the UK media of giving far more coverage to ‘any gaffes, arguments or disagreements’ of Farage and Reform, while ‘policy achievements or increased voter support are often downplayed’.

According to The Times, Mr Trump personally called Mr Farage to congratulate him on his political success in removing Sir Keir Starmer from No 10.