Leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, resigns as MP

Nigel Farage, who is the leader of political party Reform UK, has announced that he will resign as an MP.

Mr Farage has faced increasing questions over his finances and money he received before becoming an MP.

By standing down from his role as MP for Clacton, he will trigger a by-election - which is when a new MP is voted for in a particular area.

Mr Farage says he plans to stand in the by-election, adding "the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions".

So, what does this all mean? Read on to find out more...

Nigel Farage is a British politician and leader of the party Reform UK.

He was elected as MP for Clacton, in Essex, in July 2024.

He founded the Brexit party in 2019 which campaigned for the UK to leave the European Union.

This later became the Reform UK party in 2021.

Reform want much stricter rules around things like immigration to the UK.

The party is currently leading in opinion polls, which is unusual as in the past it is only Labour or the Conservatives who have held that position.

An opinion poll is where a number of people across the country are asked their thoughts. The results are supposed to give a picture of what the UK population thinks.

Mr Farage has faced questions over a large amount of money given to him before his election, in early 2024, by a billionaire Reform UK donor, which he had not declared.

The Sunday Times newspaper has also reported he had not declared benefits, including staff and security, given to him from a different political supporter.

Members of Parliament are supposed to register any "gifts, benefits or hospitality" worth over over £300.

New MPs must register gifts they received 12 months before becoming an MP.

If they do not do this, they have broken something called the Code of Conduct - a set of rules and responsibilities that all MPs must follow.

MPs that do not follow the rules are investigated by Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, who makes sure MPs stick to the rules.

In a speech on Tuesday, Nigel Farage said he has done nothing wrong.

He says he has "not broken the law in any way at all".

"I thought about it hard and I have decided today I will resign as a Member of Parliament for Clacton-on-Sea, thereby forcing a by-election, which should happen, I hope, in short order."

Farage argues that he was not obliged to declare any of the benefits under Commons rules, and has done nothing wrong.

MPs need to be chosen by the people in their constituency, usually in a general election.

But when an MP stands down or is unable to carry on in their job, a mini election is needed in that area to fairly choose a new MP.

Usually when an MP resigns they are saying they no longer want to be an MP.

But Nigel Farage has also announced that he will stand in the by-election.

So he is hoping that he will be elected again as MP.

"Now I've decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions. This will be a people versus the establishment by-election," he said in a televised speech.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called it "a desperate stunt from Nigel Farage".

He added: "Politics should be about improving the lives of millions of people, not about personal gain, not about hiding dodgy donations, and I think the public will see this for exactly what it is."

A spokesperson for Andy Burnham, who is widely expected to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister, said the Reform UK leader's resignation was a "gimmick designed to distract from serious allegations about Farage's funders".

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says Nigel Farage is "cracking under the pressure" because "he is finally having to face some scrutiny".

The by-election for Clacton is expected to take place next month.