Nigel Farage ‘was all set to run as MP’ but changed mind over early election

Mr Farage is honorary president of Reform UK but will not stand to become an MP - Jonathan Buckmaster/Daily Express

Nigel Farage was preparing to announce his candidacy for the general election next week, but ditched the idea when Rishi Sunak called an early election, sources have told The Telegraph.

The honorary president of Reform UK confirmed on Thursday morning that he would be standing at July’s election, insisting now was not “the right time” for him to stand and pointing to the importance of the US election.

The fact that Mr Sunak has killed off any chance of Mr Farage standing in the election will be seen as a victory by Conservative Campaign Headquarters.

Despite Thursday’s announcement, insiders have told The Telegraph that Mr Farage had previously told aides to organise a launch event at which he would have declared: “I’m standing.”

However, Mr Farage calculated that he would need a lengthy period of campaigning in order to win the Westminster seat that has eluded him seven times in the past, and Mr Sunak’s announcement of a six-week campaign killed off the idea.

Several sources told The Telegraph that Mr Farage was “very strongly” considering standing for Parliament, and although he had not made a final decision he wanted a launch event to be arranged so that everything would be in place if he decided to go for it.

Instead, Mr Farage will spend the day supporting Richard Tice, the Reform UK leader, at an event likely to take place in Boston and Skegness, the constituency in which Mr Tice is standing.

Mr Farage was mulling several different constituencies for a potential eighth run at Parliament, but Boston was not one of them.

Intriguingly, despite his decision not to run in this election, he has not ruled out a comeback at the next one, likely to be held in 2029, when he might stand a better chance of winning.

A source close to Mr Farage said: “Nigel can only play his final card once, and this was not the right moment.”

Mr Farage has made it clear recently that Reform UK is a six-year project, with 2024 being used to make serious inroads into the Right-wing vote before an all-out assault on winning power in the election that follows that.

Mr Tice told the Telegraph earlier this year that he believes he could be prime minister by 2029, because he is convinced that Sir Keir Starmer will win this year’s election, make a mess of governing, and that the public will be crying out for a strong alternative to replace Labour.

One source said: “Nigel felt he needed the best part of six months to run a successful campaign for a seat, and a six-week campaign just isn’t long enough.”

He will not be hosting his nightly GB News programme during the election campaign, in order to comply with broadcasting rules on impartiality, but that will not prevent him from appearing as a guest on GB News programmes, something he intends to do on a regular basis.

Although Mr Farage not standing in the election will be a boost for the Tories, the former Ukip leader will still be in a position to have a significant impact on the election.

Mr Farage has made it clear that he will “do my bit to help in the campaign”, and without a parliamentary seat to contest, he can be dispatched to constituencies where Reform is closest to snatching seats, and help them to make the breakthroughs that have so far eluded them.

Speculation had been mounting that the former Ukip leader could make a return to the political front line as the election campaign gets under way.

It was thought the announcement could be made on Thursday morning, with Mr Farage expected to attend a press conference hosted by Mr Tice, the Reform leader, at 11am.

But in Thursday’s statement, published on Twitter, he declared that he would not be standing.

Help with grassroots campaign

It read: “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.

“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.”

Mr Farage’s reference to the US election echoed remarks earlier this month, when he said the presidential race was more important than the UK vote.

Speaking to The Telegraph from the US, where he spent the week of the local elections instead of campaigning for Reform, he said: “Yes, we’ve got an election year, but the biggest election in the world is taking place here.

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

Mr Farage has been a prominent supporter of Donald Trump since the 2016 presidential race and has cultivated a friendship with him. There is speculation he could be offered a job in a second Trump administration.

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