Europe, UK (Commonwealth Union) – British politician Nigel Farage has officially announced his candidacy. Known for his strong Eurosceptic views and leadership of the Brexit Party, Farage has been a prominent figure in British politics for decades. His decision to run for the election may have come as little surprise to some and complete shock to others.
Farage’s announcement came during a speech he made, where he outlined his vision for the country and the changes, he believes are necessary to ensure a prosperous future for all Britons.
Nigel Farage has announced he will stand as the Reform UK parliamentary candidate for Clacton, Essex in the upcoming General Election. This “emergency” announcement marks his return to the political forefront. Farage, taking over from Richard Tice as the leader of Reform UK, stated that the Election campaign needs some “gingering up.”
“I’ve changed my mind. It’s allowed you know, it’s not always a sign of weakness. It could potentially be a sign of strength.
“So I am going to stand in this election. I’ll be launching my candidacy at midday tomorrow in the Essex seaside town of Clacton.”
Who is Nigel Farage?
In 1999, following the introduction of proportional representation for elections to the European Parliament, Farage—a founding member of the UK Independence party, or UKIP—became an MEP for South-East England.
In September 2006, Farage took over as leader of Ukip for the first of his two terms in office. Ukip would go on to become known for its internal conflicts and splits as well as the danger it posed to the Conservative party.
When Farage launched a viral attack on Herman Van Rompuy in 2010, he gained recognition and started to carve out a role as the showman leader of a new movement of European populists. In his appearance in the European parliament two months before the 2010 general election, he criticized the top EU official, calling him “the appearance of a low-grade bank clerk” and accusing him of having “the charisma of a damp rag”.
On the day of the 2010 general election, the plane Farage took crashed as its Ukip-promoting banner got entangled in the tail fin. Farage was rescued from the wreckage with critical injuries. Along with being struck by a car in 1985 and receiving a cancer diagnosis, Farage had several near-death experiences.
Following his 2010 unsuccessful attempt to depose Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, he led the party again from 2014 to 2016, during which it concentrated on building stronger support from the general public for a political uprising that would pave the way for Brexit. With over 26% of the vote, the party would have its greatest performance in the UK’s 2014 European Elections.
The time frame encompassed Farage’s inability to secure the seat of South Thanet as an MP during the 2015 general election. Even though he resigned as leader, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party rejected his resignation shortly after.
In an attempt to permanently eliminate the threat that Ukip posed to the Conservative Party and put an end to dissension within his own party, Farage spearheaded the mobilization of the pro-Brexit vote during the 2016 EU membership referendum, which was called by the then-prime minister, David Cameron.
One of Farage’s actions was releasing an anti-migrant poster, which sparked claims of encouraging hate. “In some ways, it won us the referendum because it kept us focused on the danger of open borders,” he later stated to the Yorkshire Post.
In an attempt to capitalize on the Leave victory, Farage declared that there would be “no more Mr Nice Guy” when he established his new Brexit party in April 2019. The two-party system, he claimed, was “unfit for purpose” and lashed out at the Conservative and Labour parties.
When Farage declared that the party would not run candidates against the Conservatives in the 317 seats they won in the previous general election, the party would play a significant role in that year’s general election. This was after Boris Johnson committed to leaving the EU by 2020 and pursuing a trade agreement akin to that of Canada. Reform UK would later become the new name for the Brexit party.
Taking an interest in broadcasting, Farage hosted The Nigel Farage Show on talk radio station LBC, and left his position as leader of Reform to become a presenter on GB News.
In 2023, he attempted to expand his fan base by participating in the 23rd series of the reality TV series I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! ending placed third.
Much of the media has focused on the damage to the conservatives with the announcement of Mr. Farage, but political experts have indicated that there might be room for Reform and the Conservatives to join hands depending on the results of the election.
Regardless of the outcome, one thing is certain: Nigel Farage’s entry into the race has added a new level of energy and unpredictability to an already tumultuous political climate. In the coming weeks ahead, voters will have the opportunity to decide whether Farage’s vision for the future is the right path for the United Kingdom. As the election approaches, the nation will undoubtedly be closely watching the developments in this race for leadership.
