Why Nigel Farage’s future lies in Rachel Reeves’ hands

When Nigel Farage announced he was resigning as an MP, only to stand again in the same constituency, he claimed it was a move to take back control and stick two fingers in the establishment by proving voters were on his side.

But he may not have taken into account that Labor Chancellor Rachel Reeves actually had the power to allow him to resign and trigger a by-election.

Under a secret parliamentary procedure dating back to the 1620s, his office is ultimately responsible for whether an MP can resign. The move would be extraordinary and would force Mr Farage to remain in parliament.

But that’s exactly what Labor ministers and opposition parties are calling on Ms Reeves to do: prevent her from casting a “rigged” vote for Clacton, at least temporarily, until the parliamentary ‘dirt’ investigation into the UK Reform leader is concluded.

Critics who support such a move say “the people of Clacton deserve the facts” before heading to the polls.

Why does Farage want a by-election?

In his resignation speech on Tuesday, the Reform leader accused his opponents of using the parliamentary inquiry into him as a “political tool”.

He faces questions over a £5 million gift from a crypto billionaire and support from convicted fraudster George Cottrell.

He insists he has done nothing wrong, but if he is found to have broken strict parliamentary rules, his punishment could trigger a series of events that will ultimately lead to a by-election in his seat.

The call for by-elections itself appears to be an attempt to seize the initiative and prove that the people are on their side. He even said that this would be an election “against the people and the order”.

But critics argue the vote should not take place until the investigation into Mr Farage is completed. This has been postponed until after the by-election, but will continue if re-elected.

Why is the chancellor responsible for whether an MP can resign?

Because they are elected members of Parliament, MPs cannot in theory resign and must be disqualified if they wish to leave Westminster while Parliament is sitting.

To do this they must be appointed Commissioner and Bailiff of the Three Hundred Chilterns.

Holding the title of Chiltern Hundreds or similar Manor of Northstead immediately disqualifies a person by law from becoming an MP and therefore excludes him from the House of Commons.

And the person who appoints these positions is the chancellor. That is why, in 2023, Prime Minister Jeremy Hunt appointed Boris Johnson to the Chiltern Hundred when he resigned.

What are ministers and opposition MPs urging Reeves to do?

Labor minister Chris Bryant said on his former Twitter account, X, that there was precedent for the chancellor to block the resignation of an MP.

“The Chancellor refused to appoint Henry Cadogan as Member of Parliament for Chiltern Hundreds for Reading in 1842 because he believed the MP was trying to vacate his seat to conceal corrupt financial dealings and electoral bribery,” he wrote.

His message was also republished by another minister, Labor MP Angela Eagle. However, it appears that it was later deleted.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also wrote to Ms Reeves, urging her not to allow Mr Farage to resign as an MP while the investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner continues.

He said: “The Chancellor has the power to stop Farage’s cynical game. I wrote to him this morning urging him to take action.

“Farage must not be allowed to resign until the investigation into his dodgy dealings is concluded. The people of Clacton deserve the truth first.”