GB News insiders hope Farage rules out Reform MP bid amid ratings fears

Nigel Farage’s suggestion that he will not return to frontline politics at the general election has been greeted with “huge relief” at GB News, where bosses fear losing the “channel’s biggest ratings draw”.

The Reform UK party co-founder has played down the idea that he would run for a Parliamentary seat, a move which would force him to give up his nightly GB News show during the campaign.

Speaking on a visit to the US – where he spent last week instead of campaigning for Reform in the local elections – Mr Farage told the Daily Telegraph that “the biggest election in the world is taking place here”.

He added: “While I’m not ruling out anything in the UK completely, I think where I am this week is an indication of my thinking.”

The former Ukip leader, who has close ties with Donald Trump, said he was minded to spend more time in the US in the run-up to November’s presidential election, which could clash with a UK poll.

Mr Farage had been previously tipped to stand in Clacton, Essex, which was formerly held by Douglas Carswell, who defected from the Conservatives to Ukip in 2014. Reform has now selected a candidate in the constituency.

And despite not categorically ruling out an eighth Parliamentary run, Mr Farage’s remarks were welcomed inside GB News.

An insider said: “If Nigel is staying out of the UK election that will come as a huge relief. He is the channel’s biggest ratings draw, you can see the figures slump when he is away.”

Last month, a ruling from media regulator Ofcom cleared Mr Farage to continue his show on GB News in the run-up to the general election, but only if he did not stand as a candidate.

The insider added: “Morale at GB News is low. They are cutting costs and jobs. There’s no sign of Boris Johnson [who previously announced he was joining the channel). If Nigel left that would be a real hammer blow.”

Mr Farage has promised to confirm his intentions in the next few weeks.

Reform won 16.9 per cent of the vote in the Blackpool South by-election last week, coming third, only 117 votes behind the Tory candidate.

But Reform won just a handful of local council seats and the party’s nationwide performance may not have convinced Mr Farage could win a seat in the Commons.

A senior Reform source told i that “at the present time it remains unlikely Nigel will stand as an MP again”.

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The source added: “Why would he? He loves his life and his job on GB News. He has nothing left to prove.”

Mr Farage is expected to present episodes of his GB News show from the US in the days before the 5 November presidential election.

The channel has set up a GBN America X feed, in the hope of expanding its audience by attracting right-wing viewers over from Fox News.

There is speculation that Mr Trump could reward Mr Farage for his support with an ambassadorial role if he is elected.

However, reports over the weekend suggested that Mr Farage could still play a significant role in UK politics, if still from the sidelines.

According to the Sunday Times, allies of Boris Johnson and Mr Farage had discussed an alliance between the pair that could reunite right-wing voters in the UK under the Conservative banner after a Tory defeat.

Representatives for both men dismissed the idea.

GB News was approached for comment.