Farage is victim of by-election 'stitch-up', claims Reform's Scottish leader

Reform UK's Scottish leader has claimed Nigel Farage is the victim of an "establishment stitch-up" after his political rivals refused to contest a by-election triggered by his resignation from Westminster.

Malcolm Offord also insisted that Farage - who is being investigated over an undeclared £5m gift from a billionaire - has done "nothing wrong".

Farage has quit as an MP to force a by-election in which he aims to be re-elected as the representative for Clacton, arguing he wants to be "judged" by his constituents rather than the media.

However, other major parties have confirmed they will not stand candidates in the vote, describing it as a political stunt.

Farage is under investigation from Parliament's standards commissioner after not declaring a £5m gift he received shortly before he became an MP from billionaire Reform donor Christopher Harborne.

Questions have also been raised after the Sunday Times reported that longstanding Farage ally George Cottrell - who was convicted of wire fraud in the US in 2017 - paid for Farage's staff and security before the 2024 general election.

Newly elected MPs are required to declare gifts or benefits received in the year before their election that relate to their "parliamentary or political activities".

There is an exemption for gift and benefits that are "purely personal". Farage has argued that the support he received would fall under this exemption.

The Reform UK leader, announcing that he would step down as an MP to trigger a by-election, described the ballot as a "people versus the establishment" vote.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the by-election "shouldn't be happening" while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said her party would not participate in "the fake election, which Nigel Farage is causing to distract people from what is happening".

In response, Offord said Farage was the victim of an "establishment stitch up".

He told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast: "He is anti-establishment, he's anti the incumbent parties, and he's been a thorn in their side for 25 years.

"This is an opportunity for them to knock him out the ring, and they're feart."

Offord said he did not know the full circumstances of the financial support gifted to Farage but insisted that the Reform UK leader had done nothing wrong.

He told the BBC that the £5m gift had been given on an unconditional basis when Farage was not "even thinking of standing to be an MP" but that he later changed his mind.

Asked about Cottrell's support, Offord described Farage as an "international figure" who meets "interesting people along the way".

He said Cottrell was a "personal friend" of the Reform leader.

He added: "Right now, there's a narrative that if anyone's made any money, they're a bad person, and this is really bad for Britain."

Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and Restore Britain have all ruled out contesting the Clacton by-election.

The only challenger to so far put their name forward is Count Binface - the pseudonym of comedian Jon Harvey, who regularly takes part in high-profile ballots.

Asked what his pitch would be to voters in Clacton, he told the Today programme: "Well, I'm not Nigel Farage."

He said he would tailor his manifesto to the constituency, but his national policies remain - including a pledge to cap the price of 99 Flakes at 99p.

The Lib Dems had called on the government to block Farage's resignation until the standards investigation had concluded.

The probe, which started in May, has been paused following Farage's resignation but it could be resumed if he wins the by-election and returns to Parliament.

One possible outcome of the investigation is a suspension for Farage, which could lead to another by-election.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves later confirmed that she would accept Farage's resignation.

She posted on social media: "It is a farce and a desperate distraction, and the people of Clacton deserve better.

"But if he wants to spend the summer arguing with a bin, I won't stop him."

SNP MSP Calum Kerr, said: "Nigel Farage debating a bin all summer is a perfect symbol for broken, Brexit Britain.

"The UK state is in terminal decline and the architect of Brexit scrapping it out with a bin sums up the decay."

Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie said: "For years, Lord Malcom Offord represented the establishment, but now he is pretending to be the champion of the anti-establishment.

"It is Nigel Farage who is stitching up the voters in Clacton by attempting to draw them into his own personal vanity project."

Polling expert Prof Sir John Curtice predicted that the forthcoming Clacton by-election could turn out to be a "damp squib" after other major parties said they will not contest the vote.

However, he said the move would get Farage "back in the headlines".

He added: "Reform are still ahead in the opinion polls, but with the slight boost for Labour in the wake of the resignation of Keir Starmer, and the fact that support for Reform has been edging down slowly.

"He would be hoping that the publicity will help to push him up."