Farage announced yesterday he would not stand for the party he once led, putting an end to weeks of speculation that he would make an eighth attempt to enter parliament.
The former Ukip leader made his announcement on X hours before the Reform leader, Richard Tice, launched the party's general election campaign at a press conference in London.
Farage tweeted: "I have thought long and hard as to whether I should stand in the upcoming general election. As honorary president of Reform UK I am fully supportive of Richard Tice's leadership and urge voters to put their trust in him and Lee Anderson [the party's sole MP]. I will do my bit to help in the campaign, but it is not the right time for me to go further than that."
He added that he wanted to be free to campaign in the US presidential election later this year. "Important though the general election is, the contest in the United States of America on November 5 has huge global significance."
This story is from the May 24, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the May 24, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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