Politics LIVE: Nigel Farage quits as MP as he triggers shock by-election.H

6 hours ago15:03 Katie Harris

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “Let’s call this Nigel Farage announcement out for what it is: a cynical political stunt to distract from his dodgy dealings with crypto crooks and super rich aristocrats.

“Whether it’s multimillion-pound bungs, luxurious houses or fully funded apparatchiks, Reform’s undeclared cronyism stinks.

“Farage is jumping before he’s pushed. This is straight out of the Trumpian playbook – attacking the media and anyone daring to ask legitimate questions about his finances.

“Britain and Clacton deserve better than this.”

6 hours ago15:02 Katie Harris

6 hours ago15:01 Katie Harris

6 hours ago14:47 Katie Harris

6 hours ago14:39 Katie Harris

7 hours ago14:27 Katie Harris

Nigel Farage is quitting as Clacton’s MP to spark a by-election which he will fight.

He said: “The issue with my daughter was the final straw. Enough is enough. And I thought over the weekend, what shall I do? I could go out and try and make some real big money. I could go to the USA, where I’ve got plenty of offers. And then I thought, why should I be judged today, or in history in the future, by Sky News and their ilk?

“Why should they be the people that decide my fate? When, as I repeat, I have done nothing wrong.“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.

“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. It’s a chance to stick two fingers up to the entire Establishment to frankly tell them where to go, and that is why I will be putting my name forward to stand in this by-election.

“I will fight to win. I will fight to continue the political revolution that Reform has started, and I would say this to you, the voters of Clacton, if I win, you win, because if I lose, they win, and we will never with the two old parties get the type of fundamental change that we need to fix broken Britain.”

(Image: Getty)

7 hours ago14:26 Katie Harris

A furious Nigel Farage accused the press of harassing his family.

The Reform UK leader said: “For some reason, last week the editor of the Times newspaper decided to publish a picture of where my daughter lives.

“There is no public interest in my daughter whatsoever. She is not involved in current affairs, doesn’t seek to be involved in current affairs, and has never been used by me once at any point in my political career.

“No photographs on election addresses or anything like that, I’ve always done my absolute best to protect the privacy and safety of my family.

“By publishing that photograph, the editor of The Times has directly threatened her security… She now has broadcasters haranguing her.

“Sky News were one of them, and when I questioned them on it, they willfully and deliberately lied and said on their channel that they hadn’t contacted the family.

“Well, let me be clear. I will not tolerate intimidation of my family. I will not tolerate the location of where they live being revealed.

“I will not tolerate any of my family being endangered because of what I choose to do in public life, so yes, you can ask, am I angry? Well, I’ve never been angrier in my life.”

Sky has said it did not contact anyone from Mr Farage’s family about the story.

7 hours ago14:21 Katie Harris

Nigel Farage said he will need security for the rest of his life which is why he is “grateful” to Christopher Harborne for his £5 million gift.

The Reform leader said: “I am going to need security for the rest of my life, and I cannot even begin to tell you how grateful I am to Christopher Harborne because I will never, ever need to worry about whether I’ve got the resource.”

7 hours ago14:19 Katie Harris

Nigel Farage said: “For over 20 years now, I have been subject to constant demonisation by the press for daring to be outside the consensual view on many issues.

“I’ve been attacked again and again. I am the most physically and verbally attacked public figure or politician of modern times.

“Yes, you will know of some of the incidents, milkshakes thrown in my face, placards bashed over my head, but let me promise you, you only know about a fraction of the number of times that I’ve been assaulted.”

7 hours ago14:16 Katie Harris

(Image: Getty)

7 hours ago14:15 Katie Harris

7 hours ago14:14 Katie Harris

(Image: Getty)

7 hours ago14:13 Katie Harris

7 hours ago14:07 Katie Harris

Lee Anderson (Image: JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images)

7 hours ago13:50 Katie Harris

In other news as we wait for Nigel Farage’s statement, Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Ankara for the Nato summit.

The trip to Turkey is his last major international engagement as Prime Minister.

7 hours ago13:46 Katie Harris

Nigel Farage could “take a break” as leader of Reform UK to clear his name amid allegations over his finances.

But allies told The Independent that he “will not run away” amid speculation he is set to quit.

8 hours ago13:29 Jonathan Walker

8 hours ago12:56 Steph Spyro

There is speculation that Nigel Farage could quit as an MP to spark a by-election in Clacton which he would then fight to make a return to Parliament.

If he triggered the by-election today, it would lead to a vote on the same day as the Greater Manchester mayoralty ballot on 30 July.

It’s been suggested that this would halt any formal Parliamentary inquiries into Mr Farage’s financial support.

8 hours ago12:42 Steph Spyro

Nigel Farage reacted angrily when approached at an airport by a Sky News journalist asking whether it had been a mistake not to declare gifts from the ally.

“You tell your bosses, you harass my family any more… serious consequences. That’s what your organisation has done this morning. Go away,” he said.

Sky said it had not contacted anyone from Mr Farage’s family about the story.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch claimed Mr Farage had referred to the 2011-2012 Leveson inquiry into practices by journalists in response to questions from Sky News because he was considering curbing press freedoms.

Speaking at a rally in central London, Mrs Badenoch said: “What surprised me most was what he said, it was on Sky News, that he said this, where he was being asked questions, and then talked about Leveson.

“He’s hinting at press regulation.

“For all of the criticism and the attacks, and I would even say abuse, that I’ve got from the press, I never once recommended us curbing our free press.”

She added: “We should be worried about a Reform government using government power to control the press.”

The Reform leader on Sunday issued a statement saying he had not broken any rules.

8 hours ago12:40 Steph Spyro

Mr Farage appeared to have won the backing of US president Donald Trump in his fight against what the Reform leader called an “establishment hit job”.

Mr Farage said he has “done no wrongdoing” after The Sunday Times investigation into his ties with Mr Cottrell.

Mr Trump appeared to indicate his backing for Mr Farage.

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday, the US leader shared a link to an article on The National Pulse website titled They’re Running The 2024 Anti-Trump Playbook on Nigel Farage.

Mr Trump personally called Mr Farage to congratulate him on his political success in achieving the removal of Sir Keir Starmer from No 10, The Times reported.

As well as Labour’s call for the elections watchdog to intervene, the Liberal Democrats have already demanded a parliamentary sleaze inquiry.

Donald Trump (Image: Getty)

8 hours ago12:38 Steph Spyro

The Reform UK leader is under pressure following reports that long-term ally George Cottrell had provided funding for security and staffing in the year before he was elected.

Labour has asked the Electoral Commission to investigate whether the support should have been declared because Mr Farage was a prominent figure in Reform even before he returned to frontline politics.

The party also questioned whether Montenegro-based Mr Cottrell was a permissible donor, claiming it was not clear whether he was on a UK electoral register at the time.

Mr Farage is already facing a parliamentary investigation over a £5m gift he received from Reform donor Christopher Harborne before he became an MP.

8 hours ago12:37 Steph Spyro

Liberal Democrate leader Sir Ed Davey said: “I hope it’s that you haven’t got one. You’ve caused more than enough damage already.”

The post on social media platform X is in response to a post by Nigel Farage saying he will make a statement about his future in public life at 2pm.

9 hours ago12:21 Steph Spyro

10 hours ago10:45 Steph Spyro

Kemi Badenoch’s soeech has now ended.

We’ll bring you analysis fro our reporter in the room, Aaron Newbury, soon.

10 hours ago10:42 Steph Spyro

Kemi Badenoch has defended the triple lock policy.

She says she believes in it because it is “the right thing to do”.

The triple lock means the rise will either match the rate of inflation, average earnings or 2.5% – whichever is highest

11 hours ago10:35 Steph Spyro

11 hours ago10:26 Steph Spyro

Kemi Badenoch says all foreign criminals need to be deported.

She says she would support third-party country deportations, like Rwanda.

There are no consequences for crimes, the Tory leader says.

She urges Andy Burnham to vote against the early release of prisoners at an Opposition Day vote later on Tuesday.

Kemi Badenoch (Image: Sky News)

11 hours ago10:18 Steph Spyro

Vladimir Putin “doesn’t care how nationalised your buses are”, Kemi Badenoch said as she hit out at her political opponents for not focusing enough on defence spending.

The Conservative leader criticised both Reform UK’s Nigel Farage and prime minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham for their focus in recent weeks.

Reform UK is “completely distracted by their constant scandals and personal dramas”, Mrs Badenoch said, adding Mr Burnham had said “nothing” about defence after an encounter between British forces and a Russian plane in the Arctic.

Hitting out at Mr Burnham’s devolution policy, the Conservative leader said: “I don’t think that Vladimir Putin is going to be worried about Nigel Farage, I don’t think he’s going to be worried about Andy Burnham either.

“Putin doesn’t care how nationalised your buses are and he doesn’t care whether No 10 is in Manchester or London.”

11 hours ago10:16 Steph Spyro

The Tory leader is now taking questions from the press “unlike other party leaders”, Kemi Badenoch says.

Andy Burnham refused to take press questions after a speech last Monday in Manchester.

11 hours ago10:14 Steph Spyro

Andy Burnham’s big idea is to tax the south to fund the north, Kemi Badenoch says.

She says the “room for movement” that Andy Burnham sees on taxes is “not in the real world”.

Taking aim at various party leders, she says “silly season” is not for the people running the country.

Speaking at a rally in central London where she spoke about defence funding, Mrs Badenoch said: “Burnham wants a summer holiday, Farage is in hiding, Starmer is retiring.”

She added: “But all of this is happening right at the time when difficult decisions need to be made.

“Silly season is not for the people running the country. Britain needs some grown-ups in the room, but they don’t appear to be any outside the Conservative Party.”

11 hours ago10:11 Steph Spyro

Kemi Badenoch has offered to work with the next Prime Minister to work together to cut welfare and fund defence.

She jokes that the nect leader, who is likely to be Andy Burnham, won’t take her up on the offer.

11 hours ago10:06 Steph Spyro

Kemi Badenoch has accused Westminster of being “distracted”.

She says Prime Minister Keir Starmer is going to Turkey for NATO with an inadequate defence investment plan (DIP).

The Tory leader says the probems with the DIP hasn’t gone away just because Andy Burnham is “riding to their rescue”.

Kemi Badenoch at defence rally (Image: Sky News)

11 hours ago10:04 Steph Spyro

Kemi Badenoch has arrived on stage.

She begins by saying Sir Keir is jetting to the most important NATO summit in a generation because Russia could launch an attack on NATO as soon as 2030.

“This could put us in direct conflict with the world’s biggest nuclesr state”, she says.

11 hours ago09:59 Steph Spyro

11 hours ago09:51 Steph Spyro

Here’s a quick snapshot of people who will be standing behind Kemi Badenoch at her defence rally.

Our reporter Aaron Newbury is in the room and will be feeding analysis into the live blog from there.

Stage is set for Kemi Badenoch’s defence rally (Image: Aaron Newbury)

12 hours ago09:32 Aaron Newbury

Kemi Badenoch is due to speak this morning in central London.

She’ll be attacking Labour’s reform on defence at an event attended by members and MPs.

The Express is on site, and have already spotted James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, and Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake at the entrance to the speech.

Andrew Griffith and Andrew Bowie are also here, with more of the shadow cabinet and senior MPs expected.

Most of the attendees are Conservative Party members, who’ve been told they’re coming along to a “rally” with Kemi.

A sign at Kemi Badenoch’s speech (Image: Aaron Newbury)

12 hours ago08:47 Steph Spyro

Donald Trump appeared to indicate his backing for Nigel Farage as the Reform UK leader continues to face intense scrutiny over financial support given to him by a convicted criminal.

The Clacton MP claimed he was the victim of an “establishment hit job” and has “done no wrongdoing” after The Sunday Times reported George Cottrell had provided funding for security and staffing in the year before he was elected.

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday, the US President shared a link to an article on The National Pulse website titled They’re Running the 2024 Anti-Trump Playbook on Nigel Farage.

Under rules in place at the time of Mr Farage’s election in 2024, new MPs were required to register any gifts worth more than £300 they received in the previous 12 months, except where the gift “could not be reasonably thought by others” to relate to their political activities.

Mr Cottrell reportedly recruited and paid three staff to work on Mr Farage’s social media before the general election, and has continued to allow him to use a five-storey Georgian property he rented near Buckingham Palace.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called for Parliament’s standards commissioner, who is already investigating a £5 million gift the MP received from crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne, to examine the support.

Donald Trump heads to Turkey (Image: Getty)

13 hours ago08:17 Steph Spyro

Kemi Badenoch could be asked about the World Cup when reporters quiz her at a defence rally later on Tuesday morning.

She said on Monday night that she would probably not back a bank holiday if England wins the World Cup, arguing the “private sector would still be working and the public sector would take the day off”.

Asked whether she would support a bank holiday if the Three Lions win the tournament, the Tory leader told a Politics UK event: “Probably not, still.

“Sadly, we all know what would happen with a bank holiday – the private sector would still be working and the public sector would take the day off, and you’d all have to pay for it.

“This Conservative Party is very much about common sense. Party hard but work hard too, that is my motto.”

Kemi Badenoch (Image: Getty)

13 hours ago08:02 Steph Spyro

The UK risks being cut off from vital technology such as artificial intelligence models at the “whim” of leaders like Donald Trump unless British alternatives can be developed, MPs have warned.

The Trump administration’s restrictions on Anthropic’s advanced AI models showed the UK “may not be able to count on even its allies for access to vital technology”, the Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee said.

The Labour-led committee said the Government had failed to set out a clear plan for using the UK’s world-class science and research to secure its diplomatic goals.

With Andy Burnham expected to replace Sir Keir Starmer in No 10 later this month, committee chairwoman Dame Chi Onwurah said: “I hope the incoming administration will learn from the mistakes of its predecessors and move quickly to create a clear plan for how it will work internationally on science and technology.

“Without this, we risk falling even further behind in the global race for science and technology capability, undermining our economic prosperity and national security.”

In June, the US government banned foreign access to Anthropic’s most powerful Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models over national security concerns.

13 hours ago07:52 Steph Spyro

Defence secretary Dan Jarvis made a last minute change to the defence investment plan to make sure Britain joined an American ballistic missile programme after talks with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

Jarvis, a former paratrooper, later managed to secure £1.5 billion extra for defence from Sir Keir Starmer and decided to invest £190 million of it in acquiring the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), from a programme rejected by his predecessors who wanted to back British firms instead.

Dan Jarvis out and about talking about the defence investment plan (Image: Getty)

13 hours ago07:42 Aaron Newbury

In her speech the Conservative Party leader is expected to attack the £5 billion black hole in the defence investment plan.

Mrs Badenoch will warn that “we’re supposed to pretend that isn’t happening” and blast Labour MPs saying: “Labour haven’t realised that the problems with that Defence Investment Plan have not gone away just because Andy Burnham is riding to the rescue.”

Mr Burnham, who is widely expected to become the next Prime Minister uncontested, “doesn’t appear to have said anything about the threats we face.”

And she will say: “Britain has received intelligence that Russia could launch at attack on NATO as soon as 2030.

“This development would put Britain in direct conflict with the world’s biggest nuclear armed state.

“We could not be facing a more serious situation.”

14 hours ago07:35 Aaron Newbury

Kemi Badenoch is due to warn that Keir Starmer is heading to the “most important NATO summit in a generation.”

In a major speech this morning the Conservative Party leader is expected to hit out at intelligence which suggests the Russians could attack the alliance as soon as 2030.

“This is a critical moment in our national history,” she will say as Mrs Badenoch warns that only the Conservative Party is taking national security seriously.

(Image: Getty)

14 hours ago07:29 Aaron Newbury

Kemi Badenoch has accused Andy Burnham of having no plan to defend Britain, warning that Vladimir Putin “won’t be worried” about the incoming prime minister. The Tory leader said the Russian tyrant doesn’t care whether No 10 is in Manchester or London – just what our response is if he launches an attack.

Mrs Badenoch will use a speech on Tuesday to warn that global conflicts and uncertainty means the UK “could not be facing a more serious situation”. She will also lash out at Sir Keir Starmer’s £15billion Defence Investment Plan as being “not fit for purpose”. Her attack comes as Sir Keir jets off to Ankara, Turkey, for the NATO summit – his last as Prime Minister.

Read more from Martyn Brown, here.

14 hours ago07:19 Aaron Newbury

Kemi Badenoch has taken aim at the “latest scandal” hitting Nigel Farage.

Speaking last night she warned that her party was getting ready for “any eventuality”, including a potential by-election in his seat of Clacton.

The news came after Mr Farage was the subject of a news story which reported he had not declared donations taken before he became an MP.

Mrs Badenoch warned that “if [Farage] ever got in […] It would just be this over and over again, things not being reported, endless scandals, and I just think that it would be chaos.”

14 hours ago07:09 Aaron Newbury

Kemi knows she is punching a weak spot for Labour by talking about defence. Controversy around the funding of national security has already brought down ministers, with John Healey and Al Carns resigning over the shortfall.

Now the Tory chief knows Andy Burnham, the incoming PM, will have to either take an axe to spending elsewhere, or hike taxes, to meet the defence investment plans already truncated targets.

Neither of which he will want to do. Defence could well be the rod that breaks another PMs back, before he has even started – with Starmer deftly passing Burnham an expensive poisoned chalice.

14 hours ago07:09 Aaron Newbury

Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch will deliver a major speech on defence this morning.

It comes as the outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is due to jet off to NATO just days after it was exposed that his defence plans were not fully funded.

Sir Keir released his defence investment plan (Dip) last week, which was more than £10bn less than officials had asked for, and included a £5bn ‘black hole’ which needed to come from future budgets.

(Image: Getty)

14 hours ago07:01 Aaron Newbury