Nigel Farage has changed his stance and announced that he will run for a seat in the upcoming General Election on July 4. Farage will contest Clacton in Essex and has also taken over as the leader of Reform UK from Richard Tice. This marks Farage’s eighth attempt to become an MP, after seven unsuccessful campaigns. His decision to stand comes after a period of deliberation and a change of heart following interactions with supporters who urged him to run.
Farage, previously focused on supporting former US President Donald Trump's re-election efforts, cited a "terrible sense of guilt" for initially deciding not to run. At a London press conference, he declared his intent to lead a "political revolt" against the primary parties, criticizing both the Conservatives and Labour. He emphasized that voter disillusionment would fuel Reform UK's success, aiming for a significant vote count surpassing the four million votes Ukip polled in 2015.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer are also gearing up for the election, with both recently visiting key constituencies. Sunak faced an unexpected challenge as Liberal Democrats disrupted his campaign event in Henley-on-Thames.
The Conservatives have warned that Farage's involvement could inadvertently benefit Labour by splitting the vote. Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper criticized the government’s response, calling for clarity on Farage's potential future role with the Conservatives.
With political tensions escalating, the campaign trail remains a battleground for voter influence ahead of the General Election.