Farage, who previously said he would not stand in the election, said he would lead the anti-immigration Reform UK party.
Nigel Farage, the politician who helped champion Britain’s departure from the European Union, said he would stand in next month’s election for the right-wing Reform UK party, a blow to the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Farage, 60, previously said he would not turn out in the July 4 vote in order to help his friend Donald Trump campaign for the US election later this year.
He said he would stand for the anti-immigration party in a Eurosceptic seat in southeast England and would also return as party leader.
“I have decided that I have changed my mind,” Farage told a press conference. “It’s not always a sign of weakness; this could potentially be a sign of strength.
From London, where Farage gave a press conference to announce his candidacy, Al Jazeera’s Charlie Angela said Farage’s decision would likely boost Reform UK’s chances in the vote.
“This (Farage) press conference was organized so hastily that even some senior members of the Reform Party were not aware of it. It proves what a master of political theater Nigel Farage is,” she said.
Angela pointed out that Farage was campaigning and speaking to young people.
“He said he saw rejection from the political class for the first time in decades,” she said.
Farage stood unsuccessfully for Parliament seven times, but remains one of the most influential British politicians of his generation, pressuring a succession of prime ministers to take tougher stances on Europe and immigration.
In the last general election in 2019, Farage’s party decided not to contest seats held by the Conservatives, then led by Boris Johnson, to avoid splitting the pro-Brexit vote.
Polls suggest the opposition Labor Party is on course for victory this time, with the Conservatives facing one of the worst results in their history.
Support for Reform UK stands at around 10 percent nationally, giving the party the third highest vote share, according to polls.
Angela reported that Farage had said the Tories were already crushed and that he hoped to get the votes of Labor voters.
Conservative leader Sunak has already tried to win over voters tempted by reformists with measures such as tax cuts for pensioners and the reintroduction of national service.
Asked on Monday if he was worried about Farage entering the race, Sunak said a vote for the Reform Party would help the opposition Labor Party win the election.
News Source : www.aljazeera.com
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