British politician Nigel Farage, a former ally of President Trump and leader of the far-right Reform U.K. Party, resigned as a lawmaker on Tuesday to trigger a special election. This move comes amid mounting pressure over a financial scandal involving undisclosed gifts from a 32-year-old convicted criminal who calls him “Daddy.”
Farage stated in a televised address that he would stand for his vacated seat in southeast England’s Clacton constituency, describing it as a “people versus the establishment” by-election. He vowed to challenge the parliamentary standards committee, which has been investigating his financial declarations.
The resignation means two ongoing parliamentary investigations into donations from wealthy individuals will pause. Farage insists he has done nothing wrong. His party, Reform U.K., supports mass deportation and opposes national climate goals, topping recent public opinion polls.
Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized the move as a “desperate stunt,” while Labour colleague Andy Burnham is expected to succeed him soon. If reelected, Farage could become a serious contender for prime minister in future elections. However, if he loses his seat, he cannot serve as prime minister.
Farage, known for advocating Britain’s Brexit exit from the EU and aligning with Trump in 2016, has faced allegations of racism. His relationship with Trump cooled after a non-existent meeting at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.