Nigel Farage has announced that he will not be running in the upcoming UK general election, opting instead to focus on supporting Donald Trump’s re-election campaign in the United States.
The Reform Party is set to launch its campaign on Thursday, May 23, with candidates in all constituencies. However, Farage, the former leader of the Brexit Party, confirmed he will not be one of those candidates.
Farage said the US election on 5 November had “global significance” and that he intended “to help with the grassroots campaign in the USA in any way I can”.
Had he chosen to stand, the 2024 election would have marked Nigel Farage’s eighth attempt to enter Parliament.
Farage, currently a presenter on the right-wing news channel GB News, stated he would “do my bit to help” the Reform Party’s campaign.
The campaign will be led by Richard Tice and Lee Anderson, a former Conservative who defected in March.
The Reform Party is polling at around 11% and plans to field candidates in every seat, including those held by Conservatives.
“I will do my bit to help in the campaign, but it is not the right time for me to go any further than that,” Farage said in a statement on X.
“The choice between Labour and the Conservatives is uninspiring, and only Reform have the radical agenda that is needed to end decline in this country.”
Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage previously ran for Parliament as the leader of UKIP but has shifted his focus in recent years to speaking engagements in the US and supporting Donald Trump.
“Important though the general election is, the contest in the United States of America on 5 November has huge global significance. A strong America as a close ally is vital for our peace and security. I intend to help with the grassroots campaign in the USA in any way that I can.”
Nigel Farage
Farage’s Influence Dominates Reform’s Political Landscape
Reform has performed well in ongoing polls and recent by-election results. However, analysis by More in Common indicated that Nigel Farage, rather than party leader Richard Tice, is the primary draw for voters.
The polling revealed that immigration is the key issue driving support for Reform. A quarter of Reform voters support the party because of Farage, while only 7% do so to back Tice.
Although Farage ultimately owns Reform, electoral and corporate filings show that Tice has been the main financial backer. Since taking over in 2021, Tice has contributed about 80% of the party’s declared funding through loans and donations.
During a recent address to an audience, Richard Tice acknowledged the challenges of running an effective ground campaign for Reform. He noted that the party’s budget is limited, with spending amounting to “less than £1.5 million a year.”
This is significantly less than the £35 million allowance granted to each party nationally, and it’s expected to be overshadowed by the expenditures of the major parties like the Conservatives and Labour in the year leading up to the election.
A Reform source stated that Tice has “undoubtedly changed” in the past few years. According to the source, Tice initially approached the party as a business venture but later adjusted his leadership style after recognizing its dependence on volunteers and goodwill. “He has earned a lot of loyalty by turning up and being there,” the source said.
Tice revealed that he has selected approximately 450 candidates for the upcoming general election.
However, despite these preparations, Reform was only able to contest 323 seats in the most recent council elections.
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