Nigel Farage is the victim of an 'establishment stitch-up', according to Malcolm Offord, the Scottish leader of Reform UK. His comments come as major political parties have declared they will not contest the by-election in Clacton, triggered by Farage's recent resignation from Parliament. The move by Labour, the Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party has been widely interpreted as an attempt to diminish the legitimacy of the vote, which they describe as a 'political stunt'.
Mr Farage resigned from his seat, stating his desire to be 'judged' by his constituents rather than the media, framing the by-election as a 'people versus the establishment' contest. This decision followed a parliamentary investigation into an undeclared £5 million gift he received shortly before becoming an MP from billionaire Reform donor Christopher Harborne. Questions have also been raised regarding reports in The Sunday Times that long-standing Farage associate George Cottrell, who was convicted of wire fraud in the US in 2017, funded Mr Farage's staff and security prior to the 2024 general election.
Newly elected Members of Parliament are required to declare gifts or benefits received in the year preceding their election that are related to their 'parliamentary or political activities'. While an exemption exists for 'purely personal' gifts and benefits, Mr Farage has argued that the financial support he received falls under this category. The investigation by Parliament's standards commissioner began in May but has been paused following Mr Farage's resignation; however, it could resume if he wins the by-election and returns to Parliament.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the by-election 'shouldn't be happening', while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described her party's non-participation as a refusal to engage in 'the fake election, which Nigel Farage is causing to distract people from what is happening'. The Liberal Democrats have gone further, calling on the Government to block Mr Farage's resignation until the standards investigation has concluded. These unified responses from the main parties underscore their collective strategy to isolate Mr Farage and Reform UK.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast, Mr Offord robustly defended Mr Farage, stating, '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.' He insisted Mr Farage had done 'nothing wrong' regarding the financial support, claiming the £5 million gift was unconditional and received when Mr Farage was not considering standing for Parliament. Regarding Mr Cottrell's support, Mr Offord characterised him as a 'personal friend' and described Mr Farage as an 'international figure' who encounters 'interesting people along the way'.
Polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice has suggested that the absence of major parties could make the Clacton by-election a 'damp squib' in terms of electoral competition, despite it ensuring Mr Farage remains 'in the headlines'. With Reform UK still performing strongly in opinion polls, albeit with a slight recent dip, the publicity generated by this unconventional by-election could be crucial for the party's ongoing visibility and support.
Source: BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast, The Sunday Times