The chairman of the right wing populist political party, Reform UK, Lee Anderson has accused Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch of “running scared” after she criticised Nigel Farage over his decision to resign as MP for Clacton, paving the way for a by-election.
Badenoch’s remarks came after Farage announced his resignation, citing ongoing scrutiny over his financial affairs and insisting voters in Clacton—not Westminster—should determine his political future.
The leader of the UK’s anti-immigration political movement, Farage, had announced on Tuesday that he is resigning as a member of parliament to force a snap by-election, PUNCH Online quoted AFP to have reported.
Meanwhile, speaking at a live Politico event, Badenoch criticised Farage’s decision, insisting accountability applies to every Member of Parliament.
She said: “He went on telly having a hissy fit because for the first time, he is finally having to face some scrutiny after a very long honeymoon and he cannot handle it.
“All of us MPs have to register our donations, we have to register our gifts, nobody is above the law. He decides that he doesn’t want to do what everyone else has to do, that he is better than everybody, and now there’s an investigation.”
Responding in an interview with GB News, Anderson dismissed Badenoch’s criticism and claimed the Conservatives were avoiding a contest they expected to lose. Reform UK has since confirmed it will not field a candidate in what it described as a “fake” contest.
He said: “I think this just proves that the Tories are running scared. They know they will probably lose their deposit in Clacton, they had a poor showing last time.
“Bear in mind this should have been and was a safe Tory seat, and I think Nigel had one of the biggest swings at the last general election. I think Kemi is running scared.”
Anderson also defended Farage, arguing the Reform UK leader had faced sustained pressure from political opponents and sections of the media.
He said: “There’s a fine line between the upset that Nigel felt over the past few days, few weeks and that’s sort of boiled over into a little bit of anger as well, when the mainstream media start targeting your family, they crossed the line.
“All of Westminster has been against Nigel since day one, that’s increased over the past two years. It’s got to a point now where Nigel’s said it’s not up to Westminster, it’s not up to the mainstream media to decide on what his fate is. It’s up to the people of Clacton, and I’m sure they will turn out in thousands to re-elect Nigel at the next by election.”
Addressing the possibility of a second by-election if Farage were later found guilty in an investigation into his finances, Anderson warned it would undermine confidence in Parliament.
He said: “If there is a second by-election that will make a complete mockery of Westminster. It is a bit of a laughing stock at the moment. I go there every day and the public are getting more and more fed up with that place.
“So this is a chance for the people of Clacton to decide who they want as their member of Parliament. It’s not up to that place, it’s up to the people of Clacton, let them decide.”
Anderson also suggested the by-election could be held within weeks, pending procedural approval.
He told GB News: “Hopefully I can move the writ tomorrow in the Commons, that’s up to the Treasury, that’s up to Rachel Reeves.
“The letter’s been sent in and we’ve had confirmation. And I know Nigel spoke to the Treasury within the last hour. Hopefully I can move that writ tomorrow if they come back to us, and then we’re looking at the first couple of weeks in August.”
The Reform UK chairman further pledged that the party would reimburse the Government for the cost of the by-election, estimated at around £230,000.
He said: “We will cover the cost of the by-election; we will send a cheque to the Treasury, simple as that.
“The by-election will be run by the local council in Clacton, they’ll have to pay for it, and then they normally claim the money back from from the Treasury, from the Government. And we will make an offer to reimburse the Treasury the full cost of the by-election, we couldn’t be fairer than that.”
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