Nigel Farage said he intends to make an “emergency” announcement, fuelling speculation he will stand as a Reform UK candidate in the British general election.
The party’s honorary president, writing on social media site X, formerly Twitter, said: “I will be making an emergency General Election announcement at 4pm today.”
One party official said they were unaware of the detail of the planned announcement but joked they would be “speculating similar” when asked if Mr Farage planned to stand as a candidate.
I will be making an Emergency General Election announcement at 4pm today.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 3, 2024
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Rishi Sunak said voters only have him or Labour leader Keir Starmer to choose between on July 4th, after he was asked if he fears the possibility of Mr Farage standing in the election.
At a campaign event in Oxfordshire, Mr Sunak said: “At the end of the day on July 5, one of two people will be prime minister, either Keir Starmer or me.
“A vote for anyone who is not a Conservative candidate is just a vote to put Keir Starmer in No 10.
“So if you’re someone who cares about tackling migration, both the boats and legal migration, if you’re someone who wants a more proportionate, pragmatic approach to net zero that saves people money, and if you’re someone who wants lower taxes, it’s only the Conservatives that are going to offer those things.
“And that’s the choice at this election.”
England's business secretary Kemi Badenoch said she would not serve alongside Mr Farage in the Conservative Party.
Speaking to LBC radio, she added: “Nigel Farage has stood against many Conservatives, including some of my colleagues, what he wants to do is destroy the Conservative Party.”
Mr Farage has stood – and failed – seven times to gain election as an MP.
On May 23rd, Mr Farage said he would focus on getting Donald Trump re-elected as US president rather than stand as a Reform UK candidate in the July 4 contest.
Mr Farage said he could not campaign both nationally and for one constituency in the six-week timeframe, and suggested prime minister Rishi Sunak had used “first mover advantage” with the announcement.
Mr Farage added he would “do my bit to help” in the party’s UK campaign.
A week later, Mr Farage told GB News he had “huge regrets” about not standing.
His most recent attempt to become an MP took place in South Thanet in 2015.
The then Ukip leader finished second behind the Tories, who secured a 2,812 majority.
Mr Farage last week insisted the election is “over” and said Reform wants to win seats to be the “voice of opposition to a Labour government”.
Mr Farage, who also previously led the Brexit Party, has been approached for comment ahead of his press conference.
