00:01Reform UK leader Nigel Farrar says he is resigning as a Member of Parliament and that he will run in
00:07the subsequent by-election.
00:11In a televised statement on Tuesday, he explained that he had decided that, quote, the people of Clacton should be
00:17the judges of my actions.
00:20This will be a people versus the establishment by-election. It's a chance to stick two fingers up to the
00:29entire establishment to frankly tell them where to go.
00:35Reform UK has surged ahead in opinion polls since Labour took over in 2024, but its leader has been mirrored
00:43in a number of controversies surrounding his finances in recent months.
00:49Farrar has been under investigation since mid-May after not declaring a £5 million gift he received from a British
00:56Thai crypto billionaire, which he initially explained was a gift.
01:02The head of Reform came under renewed scrutiny over the weekend after an investigation by local media revealed he had
01:09received funding from convicted criminal and friend George Cottrell.
01:14His resignation as an MP means the enquiries will probably be paused, but could be resumed if being proportionate after
01:22the by-election.
01:23It didn't take long.
01:26It's the simplest ballot.
01:27It's at the top.
