The MP for Kingston and Surbiton, Sir Ed Davey, has spoken out after Reform UK's leader Nigel Farage resigned from his parliamentary seat of Clacton yesterday (Tuesday, 7 July), which has triggered a by-election in the area that he will stand in.

The Lib Dem Leader told Nub News: "Nigel Farage has spent his whole life dodging responsibility for his actions. This new stunt is his latest attempt to escape consequences for his biggest grift. The nation sat through a self-obsessed diatribe delivered by a Temu Trump who seems to think he is sat in the Oval Office.

"He has done nothing for his constituents and instead focused on lining his own pockets. The people of Clacton deserve better than a rubbish Trump tribute act.

"It would be a crime to waste taxpayers' hard-earned cash on this Farage vanity project. He should pay for it himself out of the millions he's grifted.

"We called on all parties to stand aside and refuse to give oxygen to Farage's vanity project - and it's great that is now happening. But the government should just say no to Farage's ego-trip and block his resignation until the Standards Commissioner has finished investigating him.

"The people of Clacton should have all the facts before they cast their votes."

In a letter to the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, Sir Ed added: "I am writing to urge you to refuse to let Farage resign as MP until the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner's investigation into him has concluded, so the people of Clacton have full facts before casting their votes.

"Mr. Farage is currently under investigation for failing to declare a £5,000,000 donation, and has been referred to the Commissioner for failing to declare financial support from a convicted fraudster.

"Rather than face the investigation with dignity Mr. Farage is seeking to manipulate parliamentary rules - and manipulate his constituents - to evade scrutiny and justice. He has broken the rules so badly, enriched himself so much, that he believes only this desperate throw of the dice can rescue his position.

"His clinical ploy cannot come to pass.

"You have the power to stop Farage's decision, and make him wait for the investigation to complete before he can resign. Use it. The voters of Clacton deserve full knowledge of Farage's lies and his rule breaking. A vanity by-election serves no one but him.

"I hope you will listen to people across the country who are disgusted by Farage's behaviour, including your own cabinet colleagues, and this farce."

Context

The Sunday Times reported over the weekend Farage had not properly declared support from long-time ally George Cottrell, which reportedly included payment for security and social media staff.

He also remains under investigation by Parliament's standards commissioner for not declaring a £5m gift he received from Christopher Harborne, a Thailand-based British cryptocurrency investor, before his election.

What Farage said on Tuesday

Farage said he had done "nothing wrong", and said the Sunday Times report was "wholly inaccurate", and the investigation into him by the parliamentary standards watchdog is "being used as a political tool".

"I've decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions," he said, adding: "And that is why I will be putting my name forward to stand in this by-election. I will fight to win. I will fight to continue the political revolution that Reform has started."

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