Nigel Farage’s Bold Return: Seeks Clacton Seat and Reform UK Leadership in Upcoming General Election

Nigel Farage Announces Candidacy for Clacton in Upcoming General Election

The ex-leader of the Brexit Party and UKIP, Nigel Farage, has declared he will run for the Clacton seat and will assume leadership of Reform UK, committing to a five-year term at the helm.

Political correspondent @NifS

Monday, June 3, 2024, 21:

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Nigel Farage has declared his intention to run for office in Clacton, Essex, representing Reform UK during the general election scheduled for July 4.

Last week, he decided against presenting himself as a candidate, instead pledging to support Richard Tice's party as it conducted its national campaign.

At a press briefing on Monday, Mr. Farage revealed a significant reversal in his previous stance and also declared that he would assume leadership of Reform from Mr. Tice, committing to the role for a minimum of five years.

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Mr. Farage expressed a profound sense of regret for not stepping up to run when the election was announced, stating that he believed he was failing his supporters.

He explained that he spent his Sunday engaging in everyday activities such as walking his dog, fishing, and visiting a local pub to contemplate his decision before making up his mind.

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"The leader declared, 'I've reconsidered my position. It's permissible, after all. Changing one's mind doesn't necessarily indicate frailty; it might actually demonstrate fortitude.'"

"I've decided to run in the upcoming election. My campaign kickoff will be at noon on Tuesday in the coastal town of Clacton, Essex."

Mr. Farage stated, "I cannot abandon the grassroots supporters. I cannot forsake the millions who have supported and believed in me, despite the terrible accusations made against me."

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Speculation was rife about Nigel Farage's involvement in the upcoming election, specifically if he would challenge the Conservative Party or potentially negotiate an electoral agreement with Rishi Sunak.

His choice is bound to concern members on the conservative wing of the Conservative Party, as they are anxious about the possibility of losing core supporters to Reform UK, particularly with Mr. Farage leading the charge.

This could also enable him to participate in broader televised debates, which are considered crucial for lesser-known parties to communicate their platforms to voters.

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Previously, Mr. Sunak minimized the potential influence of Mr. Farage entering the election race, stating to journalists, "The next prime minister will be either Keir Starmer or myself."

"Supporting a candidate other than a Conservative essentially contributes to Keir Starmer’s potential move into Number 10."

The vice-chair of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper, criticized the Conservatives, claiming they were turning into a reflection of Nigel Farage's Reform Party. She argued that Mr. Sunak's continual appeasement towards the party had deeply shocked long-time Conservative supporters who are more moderate.

She stated: "Sunak needs to demonstrate firm resolve and permanently dismiss the possibility of Farage ever being part of the Conservative Party, even if he is elected as an MP."

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Launching a sharp critique during his address, Mr. Farage described the ongoing election battle as "the most tedious and uninteresting campaign we've ever witnessed," blaming both Mr. Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer for being indistinguishable in their rhetoric.

Mr. Farage stated, "We are witnessing an unprecedented dismissal of the political elite in this nation like never before in contemporary history."

"The key takeaway from what I'm advocating, and what I aim to spearhead, is a political rebellion—a definitive shift away from the current political norms that are failing us.

"Everything in this nation seems to be malfunctioning. The healthcare system is failing, the transportation infrastructure is inadequate, and all public services fall short of expectations. We are witnessing a downturn, which can only be reversed through courageous actions."

He emphasized, "Without a doubt, we are proudly patriotic. We hold the conviction that prioritizing the interests of the British people is the correct course of action.

"We are committed to ensuring that Brexit is executed correctly, and we intend to lead the dissent. Let me be clear, I have a history of achieving this. I will take on the challenge once more and astonish everyone."

Farage's address to the electorate is likely to cause unease at Conservative Party headquarters.

The general election campaign has just seen its most stunning development yet with the entry of Nigel Farage, a character who poses a significant threat to the Conservative Party.

Attention is now focused on the voting results, with Reform UK currently polling at approximately 12%.

So far, it has not achieved any significant milestones, and this percentage of votes will not be enough to secure a seat.

In a conversation with Sky News following the announcement, Mr. Farage expressed strong confidence that his party would surpass the 3.9 million votes that UKIP garnered in 2015.

In that particular election, Douglas Carswell successfully secured a parliamentary seat for UKIP following his departure from the Conservative Party. Nigel Farage is now vying for this same seat, having unsuccessfully tried to become a Member of Parliament seven times before.

Clacton is perceived as an easy opportunity for the Reform Party. It's an area that heavily supported Brexit, whereas the Conservative candidate, Giles Watling, supported remaining in the EU.

Reform UK is performing better than usual in this coastal town, with YouGov and Sky News' MRP survey indicating a 19.5% support level. However, the influence of Farage is significant and could lead to a victory in this area.

This news is likely to unsettle those at Conservative headquarters, while Sir Keir Starmer might be quite pleased.

Surveys indicate that the Reform Party may lead to the Conservatives losing up to 100 seats by dividing the conservative vote in areas like the Red Wall and Essex. This is why the Conservatives have been heavily promoting the idea that supporting Reform ultimately aids Labour.

Farage has flipped the narrative. According to him, the outcome of the election is already decided, and the Tories are too fragmented to pose any real challenge.

Instead, Farage contends that since the Tories have already been defeated, casting a vote for them is actually the wasted vote.

He's making his appeal to the electorate, encouraging them to be part of his "political revolution".

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In the previous election, the Conservative Party maintained control of the Clacton constituency, winning by a margin of nearly 25,000 votes after Nigel Farage and the Brexit Party withdrew their candidates from several races to support Boris Johnson's "get Brexit done" initiative.

The coastal town was once under UKIP control after former Conservative MP Douglas Carswell switched allegiance to UKIP and successfully retained his seat in a subsequent by-election.

He managed to retain his position during the 2015 elections, but the Conservatives reclaimed the seat in the sudden 2017 election.

The other individuals running for election in Clacton include:

• Matthew Bensilum, representing the Liberal Democrats

• Natasha Osben, Representative of the Green Party

• Jovan Owusu-Nepaul, representative from the Labour Party

• Giles Watling, representing the Conservative Party

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