By Andrew MacAskill and Elizabeth Piper
LONDON (Reuters) -Nigel Farage, who helped champion Britain’s departure from the European Union, mentioned on Monday he would stand as a candidate in subsequent month’s election and can lead the right-wing Reform Celebration in a significant blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The shock U-turn by Farage, now a TV host, will increase his motion’s profile and problem Sunak’s Conservatives for the help of right-leaning voters at a time when the governing celebration is already badly trailing the Labour Celebration within the polls.
Farage, 60, had beforehand mentioned he wouldn’t stand within the July 4 vote with a view to assist Donald Trump struggle the U.S. election later this 12 months. However Farage mentioned he modified his thoughts as a result of he felt responsible not standing up for individuals who had turn into disillusioned with politics and had at all times backed him.
“We are going to be the voice of opposition, and I tell you what, I have done it before, I’ll do it again, I’ll surprise everybody,” Farage instructed a information convention, saying it was a fait accompli that Labour would win however that he needed to place Reform as its fundamental opponent.
He mentioned he would lead a “political revolt” in Britain as a result of “nothing in this country works anymore”, citing issues with public providers resembling healthcare and roads.
Though Farage has stood unsuccessfully for parliament seven instances he’s nonetheless probably the most influential British politicians of his technology, placing stress on a succession of prime ministers to take harder positions on the EU and on tackling immigration.
SELLING BREXIT
Shunned by the British political institution and backed by Eurosceptic financiers, Farage helped promote Brexit to thousands and thousands of voters in England and Wales who felt ignored by the primary Conservative and Labour events.
Though he was educated at an costly faculty and labored as a commodities dealer, he has cultivated a picture of an anti-establishment determine. He’s routinely pictured with a cigarette in a single hand and a pint of beer within the different.
Farage, who has survived testicular most cancers and a airplane crash, can even take over as chief of Reform, changing Richard Tice, who mentioned earlier than Farage took the stage the celebration needed a method to “turn on the rocket boosters” to the election marketing campaign.
Divisive and charismatic, Farage has beforehand made feedback that his political opponents have referred to as racist. Farage appeared in entrance of a poster in the course of the Brexit marketing campaign displaying traces of migrants beneath the slogan “Breaking Point” and final month mentioned Muslims didn’t share British values.
On the final normal election in 2019, Farage’s celebration determined to not contest seats held by the Conservatives, then led by Boris Johnson, to keep away from splitting the pro-Brexit vote.
Polls recommend the opposition Labour Celebration is on track for victory this time, with the Conservatives looking at one of many worst ends in their historical past.
Assist for Reform runs at about 10% nationally, giving the celebration the third highest vote share, polls present. However beneath Britain’s winner-takes-all system, the celebration had not been anticipated to win any seats.
A ballot earlier this 12 months forecast the Conservatives would win Clacton with Reform coming third. One betting firm mentioned Farage had a 40% likelihood of profitable the seat after his announcement.
Underneath stress, Sunak has already tried to win over voters tempted by Reform with insurance policies resembling tax cuts for pensioners, the reintroduction of nationwide service and his plan to ship unlawful asylum seekers to Rwanda.
Requested on Monday if he was fearful about Farage getting into the competition, Sunak mentioned a vote for Reform would assist Labour.