Nigel Farage has announced he will run as Reform UK’s candidate in Clacton, after previously saying he would not stand in July’s general election.

The former UKIP and Brexit Party leader said he had changed his mind after spending time on the campaign trail, adding he did not want to let his supporters down.

The Essex seat, which was the first to elect a UKIP MP in 2014, has a Conservative majority of 25,702.

Mr Farage also revealed he was taking over from Richard Tice as Reform’s leader for the next five years.

  • I’m really conflicted with this one. He will definitely help further sink the Tory ship, and I’m all for that. But the announcement probably means he’ll be even more in the news, and let me tell you, I do not want to hear a single word from his nicotine stained, ale fumes breathing, frothing mouth.