Farage has resigned as an MP for Clacton?

Thanks for that link Graphite- will watch this space!

Of course the House of Commons could refuse Farage's request to resign. See Moving the Writ:

www.parliament.uk/about/how/elections-and-voting/by-elections/

and

commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn06576/

Must a writ be moved?

There is nothing in statute law or in Standing Orders obliging the House to move a writ for a by-election. It could choose to leave the seat without representation until the next General Election

As he barely represents Clacton now would the people be any worse off?

It would be great if all the other parties boycotted the election and its just him and Count Binface.

Oh how I’d love it it no one at all was up against him in the by election !

All this old c**p for absolutely no gain! That would be the best outcome!

fancythat

^I quite agree, presumably he can stop the investigation into his finances now as he's not an MP & if re-elected scrutiny only applies to finances during the last year.
^

Ah. That could be it.

I have heard or read about eight ideas about why he is really doing what he is doing, but this one makes the most sense I think.
Assuming that is how things work.

Whilst that sounds like a great idea in theory, I very much doubt this will happen in practice. Farage cannot just make the investigation vanish.

Galaxy

He is rattled which is interesting.
I suppose in a sense it may not mean much, I don't think the results of Makerfield meant too much, except that they wanted Burnham to be PM, so I don't necessarily think the result of the Clacton election will mean too much either.

Judging by the emerging news, it looks like the other parties are likely to boycott the by election and he will have no opponents, so you’re right, it could actually mean nothing at all - at least, until he gets the outcome of the investigation.

It’s not dull, anyway.

greyfur

Oh no! Man of the people, who tells it as it is. Supports farmers, likes a pint and will stop the boats.
Is this no longer true?

Of course it’s all still true, just add likes attention and loves a media circus!

Us “indignant lefties” as you so eloquently describe us, were actually equally indignant about the way in which AB got himself elected.

Many of us “indignant lefties” recognised that it left a sour taste in our mouths and that it could ultimately end in tears.

But, big but, AB and his situation are entirely different and he is not being investigated by an Ethics Committee, neither has he made a long public statement, filmed by his own media company, and sent into the BBC claiming he’s never done anything wrong, that he’s he most targeted, both physically and mentally, UK MP ever (bit disrespectful to the families of both David Amess and Jo Cox) and how the Times published a photo of his daughter’s front door, when he’d already had press releases (allegedly) from their during the Brexit campaign.

Nor is AB being funded by crypto millionaires and other dubious donors.

Let’s just wait and see how this (Farage & AB) pans out and see what the aftermath of summer recess brings to us all.

Ultimately I’m sure all of us, including “indignant lefties” simply want to see a fairer more equitable country, a stable economy and all of us benefitting.

Oh no! Man of the people, who tells it as it is. Supports farmers, likes a pint and will stop the boats.
Is this no longer true?

This decision does not mean the investigation will not take place, only that it will be suspended.

This is effectively a strategic move so that he will stand in the by-election without the public knowing what the outcome of the investigations are.

If he’s re-elected the investigation continues.

Casdon

The investigation into the £5m will recommence if he is reappointed as an MP according to both BBC and Sky News, so he can’t escape that by resigning now.

This is my understanding.

He is rattled which is interesting.
I suppose in a sense it may not mean much, I don't think the results of Makerfield meant too much, except that they wanted Burnham to be PM, so I don't necessarily think the result of the Clacton election will mean too much either.

spabbygirl- I agree with you apart from he can't stop investigation.

It remains the case that all gifts received in the 12 months prior to MP selection for Clacton in July 2024 are subject to declaration as outlined in relevant rules, whether or not he resigns and whether or not he is re elected as MP as part of this by election plan.

If. not re elected the sanction becomes somewhat meaningless in that immediate circumstance of not being Clacton MP. But the investigation outcome can and still would be published and will hang over him if he seeks to stick around in politics at nationals stage ie remain as Reform leader.

fancythat

From what I read, it said the investiagtions would be suspended.

I am thinking, if he is re elected, the investigations cannot, or would not continue.
I could be wrong on all counts.

I do believe that you are correct

The investigation into the £5m will recommence if he is reappointed as an MP according to both BBC and Sky News, so he can’t escape that by resigning now.

^I quite agree, presumably he can stop the investigation into his finances now as he's not an MP & if re-elected scrutiny only applies to finances during the last year.
^

Ah. That could be it.

I have heard or read about eight ideas about why he is really doing what he is doing, but this one makes the most sense I think.
Assuming that is how things work.

Cossy

MayBee70

When he says he’s been the most targeted politician in this country for many years all I can think about is Jo Cox ( I still hold Farage responsible for her death and will never forgive him for it, or forget). Is there any way of finding out the truth about his comment re being attacked by a mob but not reporting it to the police?

No! He’s a grifter and I believe him to be a liar and he covers his tracks very carefully.

The piece of his speech today I “enjoyed” the most was the reason he became an MEP, “to rescue” the YK! How long did he stay an MEP, in that nasty corrupt EU?

20 years!!!! He accepted his inflated salary, did what he now does as an MP, made few appearances and had one of the worst voting records of all MEPs, and now he accepts his vast MEP pension. Apparently he bankrupted himself by becoming an MEP? Really ? 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Mr Google told him this:-

“When Nigel Farage started as an MEP in 1999, his salary was roughly €3,500 a month (around £2,400), as all MEPs were paid the equivalent of national MPs. When he left the European Parliament in January 2020, his standard gross base salary was €8,933 per month (over €107,000 per year).However, because of a European Parliament investigation into the misuse of public funds, his actual take-home pay was docked by 50% between 2018 and his departure, meaning his final gross salary was effectively reduced to about €4,466 per month during that timeframe.Here is the breakdown of the changes during his two decades in office:When he started (1999): MEPs' salaries were directly tied to the salary of members of their own national parliaments. At the time, UK MPs made roughly £47,000 annually. Farage's salary was set in Euros, equating to around €3,500 per month.The "Single Statute" (July 2009): The system changed so that all MEPs received a standardized EU salary, set at 38.5% of the basic salary of a judge at the European Court of Justice. This immediately raised his base pay to approximately €7,600 per month.When he left (January 2020): Standardized incremental rises had brought the annual base pre-tax salary to €107,208 a year (roughly €8,933 per month / £7,600), though his was subject to the temporary 50% deduction.”

Mr Google also tells me his pension is Nigel Farage's European Parliament pension is estimated to be worth around $97,000 (\(\pounds73,000\)) per year.

Mr Google also tells me that Nigel Farage spent about 30 years in the City of London's commodity market. He began his career in 1982 at the London Metal Exchange, worked for various brokers including Drexel Burnham Lambert and Credit Lyonnais Rouse, and founded his own firm, Farage Futures, in 1994. He transitioned fully into politics and media in the early 2010s.

The bits I enjoyed ( not) the most was when he said:

1) " you only know of a fraction of the attacks on me".🤨 Same for him he only knows of a fraction of attacks made on other politicians! He has no grounds to say he's the most attacked politician. Plus the example he gave ( banging on his car as he left a pub) he confirmed were not sufficiently important or bad to report to either the police or his insurance company 🤷‍♀️

2) He said it's unsafe to wear a watch of any expense in London apparently- really-crikey- what's that got to do with his decision call for this by election? Thats really clutching at straws.

3) He said the Times and journalists briefing against him were "inaccurate" and there has been" illegally obtained information and he has evidence of computer hacking" but failed to give any detail of inaccuracies or of any illegally obtained information or computer hacking- which should be reported to Secret Services.

4) He said "I won't tolerate my family being endangered" but what evidence is there his family has been endangered?

5) When his MEP role finished he had no money as he had devoted himself to this role and could have made more money in the city- crikey does he really understand how much money the average person in the street has to live on? He's made so much money since he stopped being an MEP- that so hypocritical. Applying his rational in 1) how could he possibly know the journalist sources?!

Considering Frage has brought homes in excess of £4million, cash, ie without mortgage in the past serval ears he just doesn't get the public interest in his gifts or the standards of behaviour the public should rightly expect of politicians who choose to be in public office. Even if he remained working in the city he would be subject to scrutiny and regulatory rules. As Boris famously and finally accepted Them's are the rules

LemonJam

As I understand it the investigation would be suspended but would resume if re elected as MP. He is merely trying to get ahead of investigation outcome by calling for a by election and retaining control before the investigation outcome taints the minds of Clacton residents. Two fingers ups basically.....

I quite agree, presumably he can stop the investigation into his finances now as he's not an MP & if re-elected scrutiny only applies to finances during the last year.

Which excludes the £5m.

Tim Montgomerie, Reform supporter, said on R4 at 1pm that Farage had done little to present himself as a future PM, few meetings with his MP's to work out future policies, little work in the UK etc.

I suspect he wants out, he is finding expectations of him a bit much, loosing. a by election and claiming 'establishment stitch up' & 'poor me' would suit him just fine.

Especially with his poll ratings dropping.

I'd be glad to see him go and us to get our former place in the eu back.

vegansrock

If you don't agree with the Makerfield by - election then why are you agreeing with this one? Two wrongs don’t make a right so stop the whataboutery.

Absolutely. A lot of us, on all sides of the political spectrum didn’t like the way the Makerield by election was set up, either.

If you don't agree with the Makerfield by - election then why are you agreeing with this one? Two wrongs don’t make a right so stop the whataboutery.

sundowngirl

Sunshinegirls - you won't win on this forum.

Apparently it's ok for Andy Burnham to use a bi-election in this way, but not for anyone else

Yes, I really wouldnt bother, I dont any more and I have noticed a lot of more moderate posters dont post any more either, leave the indignant lefties to it!

16:50sundowngirl

Haha but you can't blame a girl for trying😀

fancythat- Farage has always been a chancer, willing to take risks and yes it could backfire- but he will enjoy all the attention and drama along the way no doubt. And whatever the outcome put his spin on the result to present himself a victim when he is the instigator.

It's just the way Farage's mind works.....my view is he is no genius. He tried and failed 7 or 8 times before he finally got voted in as an MP. A genius would not need so many chances and opportunities.

It's more the attention and drama he likes and he can still continue to live with whatever the adverse consequences and spin it how he chooses (and most importantly to him get bank rolled by the chosen 'corrupt' few)

eazybee

^Seriously ... no MP should be allowed to force a by-election by resigning and then stand themselves. There should be a rule about this. It is simply using the system to make a point, in the process of which the tax payer has to fork out the vast expense involved.^

Perish the thought.
Imagine if someone who was in trouble say, for setting up an investigation into journalists who criticised him, nobly resigned his seat to allow another ex MP to stand and win, with the promise of a prominent role in the next government when he became PM.
Just imagine.

Having been vociferous about the Burnham Makerfield situation, I presume your condemnation of Farage’s behaviour in forcing a by election is equally strong eazybee?

eazybee

^Seriously ... no MP should be allowed to force a by-election by resigning and then stand themselves. There should be a rule about this. It is simply using the system to make a point, in the process of which the tax payer has to fork out the vast expense involved.^

Perish the thought.
Imagine if someone who was in trouble say, for setting up an investigation into journalists who criticised him, nobly resigned his seat to allow another ex MP to stand and win, with the promise of a prominent role in the next government when he became PM.
Just imagine.

Well the fact of the matter is Farage has triggered a by election as the incumbent MP of Clacton to be elected as MP of Clacton when already the MP! Its enough o give any one a headache getting their head round that 😂.

Whilst Farage knows his back is against the wall and he is being investigated for a £5 million undeclared gift and then recent revelations of financial benefits from the convicted criminal Cottrell he chooses to do this.

What do you make of Frage's decision eazybee?