Nigel Farage says he will not stand in general election
Brexit Party leader says he can better ‘serve the cause’ by supporting his party’s 600 candidates across the UK
Nigel Farage has said he will not stand in the upcoming general election, claiming he could better “serve the cause” by supporting his party’s 600 candidates across the UK.
On Friday, the Brexit party leader offered Boris Johnson the choice of forming an electoral alliance or facing a nationwide challenge in every seat at the election.
Reuters described the announcement “as a potential setback for Johnson”, which “risks splitting the vote of Brexit supporters in an election that will once again pit those who want to leave the European Union against those who want to stay, more than three years after Britain voted to quit the bloc in a referendum”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr, Farage, who has stood unsuccessfully for Parliament seven times, once again criticised the prime minister’s Brexit deal as “virtually worse that being in the EU”.
His political opponents “will suggest he's not going to run because he thinks he’s not going to win” says BBC political correspondent Jessica Parker. “But the flip side is that rather than concentrating on one constituency where he personally might try to win, Farage is making it clear he's going to try to make Boris Johnson's life pretty difficult”.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, the former Ukip leader revealed that he had twice been offered a peerage in an attempt to get him to stand down Brexit Party candidates who are making things difficult for the Conservatives.
However, former UKIP top donor and Leave.EU co-founder Arron Banks told The Sunday Express Farage needs to “step back and be more strategic,” adding: “The announcement he will stand candidates in every seat unless Boris forms a pact with him is unnecessarily belligerent.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues for £6–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Following a weekend of political manoeuvring from all the major party leaders, the prime minister once again ruled out an electoral pact with Farage, and told Sky’s Sophie Ridge he would not grant permission for a second referendum on Scottish independence, adding that people do not think referendums are “very wonderful for harmony.”
Labour, buoyed by a new poll which shows they have enjoyed a bounce since the election was called, struck a decidedly more conciliatory tone, with the shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey saying if the Scottish government went through the legislative process, her party would not stand in the way of a Scottish independence referendum.
A YouGov survey for The Sunday Times found that Labour had gained six points between Wednesday and Friday. Jeremy Corbyn’s party is now on 27%, 12 points behind the Tories, while the Liberal Democrats have slipped three points to just 16%.
A separate poll for The Sunday Telegraph put the Conservatives only eight only points ahead of Labour, “likely to spark concern within the Conservative campaign” says the paper with experts warning Johnson will need to significantly increase his lead to be sure of securing a majority.
The prime minister, who has apologised to Tory members for not taking Britain out of the EU on 31 October despite his “do or die” pledge, was handed another political headache after Politico revealed the Lib Dems, Greens and Plaid Cymru were on the cusp of agreeing an electoral pact that would see the Remain-supporting parties stand aside for one another in up to 60 seats.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Big Tech critic Brendan Carr is Trump's FCC pick
In the Spotlight The next FCC commissioner wants to end content moderation practices on social media sites
By David Faris Published
-
ATACMS, the long-range American missiles being fired by Ukraine
The Explainer President Joe Biden has authorized their use for the first time in the war
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The bacterial consequences of hurricanes
Under the radar Floodwaters are microbial hotbeds
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Labour risking the 'special relationship'?
Today's Big Question Keir Starmer forced to deny Donald Trump's formal complaint that Labour staffers are 'interfering' to help Harris campaign
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What next for Reform UK?
In the Spotlight Farage says party should learn from the Lib Dems in drumming up local support
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Men in Gray suits: why the plots against Starmer's top adviser?
Today's Big Question Increasingly damaging leaks about Sue Gray reflect 'bitter acrimony' over her role and power struggle in new government
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published