Is Farage's resignation honourable or a psychological game?

Shortly after the announcement that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage would quit his Clacton constituency and stand in the resulting by-election, the serial election candidate Count Binface posted online: "Game on, Nige."

The more mainstream political parties responded somewhat differently.

Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats all said they would not field candidates.

Restore Britain's leader Rupert Lowe, who fell out with Farage, said his party would not stand in an election that was "making a mockery of our entire democratic process".

But Farage said he wanted the people of Clacton to be "the judges of my actions".

So, what is going on?

When he first heard the news his party's leader was standing down, Peter Harris said he was "obviously concerned".

But soon Harris concluded this was "a mark of the man" he had known and worked with for several years.

Harris was Farage's election agent in the 2024 General Election, helping him win his first seat in Parliament.

"For him to go to the people in Clacton is the right thing to do," said Harris, who is now leader of Essex County Council.

In recent days and weeks, Farage faced accusations over financial support he had received.

Parliament's standards commissioner launched an investigation in May after Farage did not declare a £5m gift he received from a billionaire Reform donor before he became an MP.

Opposition parties have been calling for another inquiry after it emerged he did not disclose support reportedly provided by another political ally, convicted fraudster George Cottrell.

Farage said in a video statement yesterday: "Let me be absolutely clear. I have done nothing wrong. I have not broken the law in any way at all. I have not misused public money."

Harris said the allegations and investigation were "an establishment, mainstream media stitch-up".

And voters in Clacton were Farage's "ultimate judge and his boss".

"This is Nigel doing the honourable thing," Harris continued.

"It shouldn't be the mainstream media or the Westminster kangaroo court making the judgement on Nigel."

Before winning in Clacton, Farage had stood in elections for seven other seats:

• 1994 Eastleigh
• 1997 Salisbury
• 2001 Bexhill and Battle
• 2005 South Thanet
• 2006 Bromley and Chislehurst
• 2010 Buckingham
• 2015 South Thanet

Farage did not take questions after his statement but when asked later if his resignation was a "stunt" he told reporters it was a "big gamble".

Leaving Reform's offices in London, he added: "See you all in Clacton – in the summer.

"It'll be marvellous won't it? It'll be lovely."

For Giles Watling, the move was part of a "brilliant psychological game" by Farage.

"It may well win out again, we shall see."

Watling was Clacton's Conservative MP between 2017 and 2024.

He retained the seat in 2019 with 72.3% of the vote but saw his majority wiped out by Farage in 2024.

"It's brilliant, it's genius – there's no two ways about it," Watling added.

"Whether that's malevolent genius or not, I won't comment."

Watling said there was a "large desire to end this populist surge" that Farage represented, but that "a lot of people will stick with the Reform slogan because it's extraordinarily powerful".

In Clacton, John Crown, 78, agreed that Farage's resignation was a "clever move".

"It takes guts though – you've got to hand it to him."

Crown said he voted for Farage in 2024 and would probably vote for him again.

"It's very brave of him to throw down the gauntlet and say 'well OK you don't want me as an MP, you don't have me as an MP'."

Dean Gardiner, 63, the owner of a shoe shop in Frinton-on-Sea, praised Farage's straight-talking style and said the "establishment" was "trying to bring him down because they don't like change".

He added that "all parties receive donations".

"They've all done it – they've all had extra things and houses and clothes and watches."

Helen Anderson, 74 and from Frinton, said her initial thoughts were "great, wonderful" because she was "assuming that he won't be re-elected".

"But I also think it's to his advantage because if he is re-elected, that is a mandate for him to do what he wants, within reason."

This by-election may not be the only chance voters in Clacton get to decide on Farage.

If Farage wins the contest, it is likely the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner will resume their investigation.

According to the House of Commons Library, should that investigation find him at fault and the Committee on Standards suspends him from Parliament for 10 or more days, he would face a recall petition.

If 10% of registered voters in Clacton back that petition over a six-week period, Farage would lose his seat and yet another by-election would be held.

So this story may be far from over.

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