Nigel Farage has announced he is not standing as a candidate in the British general election, but will “do my bit to help” the Reform UK party in the campaign.
The party’s honorary president said in a statement posted on X on Thursday: “I have thought long and hard as to whether I should stand in the upcoming general election.
“As honorary president of Reform UK, I am fully supportive of Richard Tice’s leadership and urge voters to put their trust in him and Lee Anderson.
“I will do my bit to help in the campaign, but it is not the right time for me to go any further than that.
Advertisement— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) May 23, 2024
“Important though the general election is, the contest in the United States of America on November 5 has huge global significance. A strong America as a close ally is vital for our peace and security. I intend to help with the grassroots campaign in the USA in any way that I can.
“The choice between Labour and the Conservatives is uninspiring, and only Reform have the radical agenda that is needed to end decline in this country.”
Reform UK leader Mr Tice, a multimillionaire former Tory donor, said on X: “Delighted to have Nigel’s help during the election campaign.
“If you want change, you must vote for @reformparty_uk on July 4th.”
Mr Tice inherited the leadership of Reform UK, originally called the Brexit Party, from Mr Farage when he decided to step back from frontline politics in 2021 in the aftermath of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU.
The party is seeking to attract disillusioned Conservative voters, mainly over the issues of immigration and net zero.
Many Tories fear it could put a real dent in Rishi Sunak’s hopes of a return to Downing Street come polling day.
They are likely to be relieved Mr Farage has decided against taking on a more prominent role, as this could have massively boosted Reform’s prospects.
Mr Anderson, the former Tory deputy chairman, is the only current Reform UK MP following his defection from the Conservatives.
