Nigel Farage resigns his House of Commons seat and announces candidacy in resulting by-election

According to the report, Farage had received a monetary gift of five million pounds (equivalent to around 5.86 million euros) shortly before his election as a member of parliament, which he had not declared as a donation. According to his own statements, an investigation is already underway against him for this undeclared million-pound donation. The British «Guardian» had revealed the matter; the newspaper initially did not provide further details about the donor and the circumstances.

Farage justified his resignation from the mandate with the desire to face the voters' verdict again in the by-election. According to sources close to him, he saw this as an opportunity to legitimize himself on the ground after the allegations. Observers interpret the move as a tactical manoeuvre: with a new election in his constituency, Farage could win a personal mandate and at the same time use a campaign to overshadow the media frenzy surrounding the donation scandal.

Political situation and polls

The scandal is weighing on the Reform UK party, which has been polling well ahead of the established parties for months. The lead over the other parties even makes Farage's entry into 10 Downing Street after the next parliamentary election seem quite possible. Should Farage lose the by-election, he would not only lose his mandate, but also the parliamentary protection that members of parliament enjoy in Great Britain – which could further complicate the ongoing investigations.

Farage's political reversals

It is not the first time that Farage has given up a political office in order to run again later. He already resigned as leader of the Ukip party after the Brexit referendum in 2016. Shortly afterwards, he returned to the spotlight at the head of the newly founded Brexit Party. After Britain's withdrawal from the European Union in the spring of 2021, he also stepped down as its chairman. Shortly before the parliamentary election in July 2024, he then returned to the head of Reform UK.

The donation scandal is not the only allegation Farage has faced in recent years. In earlier cases, such as in connection with his former employee George Cottrell, critics accused him of being close to international financial circles that he simultaneously attacked sharply. The current revelations follow this pattern and give the political competition fresh impetus to attack Reform UK over possible lack of transparency.

Outlook on the by-election

In domestic political terms, the by-election is likely to become a mood test for British politics in the coming weeks. If Farage wins clearly despite the scandal, this would further consolidate his position as leader of the opposition. In the event of a defeat, Reform UK would be faced with the question of how the party intends to appear in parliament without its prominent leader. What is certain is that the coming weeks are likely to reignite the power struggle between Farage and his domestic political critics.

The British Electoral Commission has so far not publicly commented on the latest allegations. A date for the by-election has also not yet been set. In initial reactions, Farage himself expressed confidence that voters would not consider the donation scandal decisive, and announced an aggressive campaign. Observers expect the scandal to occupy the political agenda in Great Britain for weeks to come.