Nigel Farage Resigns As MP

Summary

---

Newscast – “Nigel Farage Resigns As MP”

BBC News | July 7, 2026
Hosts: Adam Fleming (in studio), Chris Mason (from Ankara, Turkey), and Alex Forsyth (from Westminster)

---

Overview

This episode of the BBC’s daily news podcast “Newscast” covers the shock resignation of Nigel Farage as MP for Clacton-on-Sea, his intention to trigger and contest a by-election, the political and procedural fallout, and the broader impact on UK politics. With real-time analysis and color from three seasoned BBC journalists, the episode explores not just the “what” and “how,” but also the “why” of Farage’s latest dramatic move, placing it in immediate Westminster context and recent political history.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Surprise Announcement

• At lunchtime on Tuesday, Farage teased a “statement on his future in public life,” igniting intense speculation in Westminster (02:27).
• The statement was delivered live from Reform UK HQ, with no journalists present—an orchestrated, press-controlled affair (03:33).

Key Quote

“I’ve decided today, today I will resign as a Member of Parliament for Clacton-on-Sea… 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.”
— Nigel Farage (as quoted by Alex Forsyth), [00:59–01:36]

2. The Political Theatre and Motivation

• Farage described the coming by-election as “the people vs. the establishment”—framing himself as an outsider against the political status quo (01:21).
• He cited “authentic anger” about journalistic treatment of his family, specifically his daughter, as a key motivator (05:35).
• The panel discusses how Farage is “seizing the agenda” before a possible forced by-election resulting from the Parliamentary Standards investigation—a classic case of controlling the narrative (05:58–06:10).

Key Quote

“He is volunteering [a by-election]… creating this split screen moment over the summer: Nigel Farage on one side in Clacton, Andy Burnham, the new PM, on the other… fighting for attention.”
— Chris Mason, [05:58–06:10]

3. The Parliamentary Standards Inquiry

• Ongoing probe into Farage’s undeclared £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.
• Alex Forsyth outlines that, had the inquiry determined wrongdoing, a by-election might have eventually happened anyway via a recall petition—Farage has “got ahead of that” by resigning on his own terms (06:31–08:30).
• The inquiry pauses during the by-election but could resume whether or not Farage is re-elected (08:03).

Key Quote

“He doesn’t escape the scrutiny. Instead, he seeks to reframe it… as a kind of tussle about where sovereignty lies.”
— Chris Mason, [08:30]

4. The Unusual By-Election & Major Parties’ Response

• Labour, Lib Dems, and Conservatives have all declared they won’t run in the by-election, with the Liberal Democrats urging a collective boycott (09:53–10:46).
• This is a strategic attempt to not serve as “walk-on actors in a Reform pantomime,” aiming to dampen Farage’s narrative and minimize hype (10:07–10:46).
• The Green Party’s decision will be left to its local branch, with their national leader criticizing Farage’s action.

Notable Exchange

“They don’t want to be sort of walk on actors in a reform pantomime… It’s a publicity stunt. That’s the kind of language we’re hearing.”
— Chris Mason, [09:53–10:46]

5. By-Election Procedure & Political Jockeying

• Adam and Chris break down the intricate process: MPs can’t technically resign; instead, they apply for ceremonial appointments (Chiltern Hundreds, Manor of Northstead) to vacate their seat (11:25).
• Reform UK hopes for an August by-election, to coincide with Andy Burnham’s early days as Prime Minister (12:40).
• Some parties (Lib Dems) are calling for the Treasury to delay the by-election, but most expect it to go ahead quickly to avoid fueling claims of an “establishment stitch-up” (13:50–15:57).

Key Quotes

“Of course this is intensely political and so an intensely political act provokes intensely political reaction… I think it’s probably more likely than not the by-election happens sooner rather than later.”
— Chris Mason, [13:50]

“They’re acutely aware of the… danger of that narrative: ‘the people vs. the establishment’ as Farage puts it.”
— Chris Mason, [15:02]

6. Farage’s Personal Tone & Style

• Discussion of the emotional beats in Farage’s statement, particularly his anger over media scrutiny of his family (19:19–23:12).
• Noted that Farage’s decision was highly calculated, designed to return him to his “happy place”—campaigning, with substantial media attention (17:26–19:19).

Key Quote

“Nigel Farage is in his happy place when he’s campaigning.…he comes across like he likes to campaign and is broadly thought of to be pretty good on the campaign trail…”
— Alex Forsyth, [17:26]

• The hosts observe how the format—a controlled, press-free address—kept him from direct scrutiny and allowed him to craft his message (20:00–22:41).

7. Political & Electoral Reflections: Clacton’s Story

• Reminiscing about Clacton’s status as a UKIP/Reform locus; references to Douglas Carswell’s 2014 defection and by-election, political dynamics of “left behind” coastal towns, and the broader context for why Clacton is symbolically important (24:19–27:41).
• Possible dangers for major parties in not contesting: could diminish voter choice and even backfire, as by-election history shows (28:59).

8. Farage’s Record & Political Gambles

• Farage’s career is marked by repeated resignations and returns, and his appetite for risk (“a political gambler”) (31:23–31:48).
• It is noted this will be the ninth parliamentary contest he has stood in, having only won Clacton previously (31:03–31:23).

Memorable Moment

“He nearly died in a plane crash on election day.”
— Adam Fleming, [31:48]

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “[The by-election] is a chance to stick two fingers up to the entire establishment to frankly tell them where to go.”
  — Nigel Farage (as quoted), [01:02]
• “He doesn’t escape the scrutiny. Instead, he seeks to reframe it.”
  — Chris Mason, [08:30]
• “Nigel Farage, back in campaigning mode. Some might argue he’s never been out of campaigning mode…”
  — Alex Forsyth, [23:12]
• “This is a big political gamble.”
  — Alex Forsyth, [30:20]
• “He is a political gambler. He’s walked away from some big jobs before, he’s quit before, he’s come back before… he’s not afraid of being in the political fray.”
  — Alex Forsyth, [31:29]

---

Key Timestamps

• 00:50–01:36: Excerpts from Farage’s resignation statement
• 02:45–03:33: Social media speculation and context
• 05:35–06:10: Chris Mason on Farage’s anger and use of political drama
• 06:31–08:30: Parliamentary Standards Commissioner inquiry, by-election process
• 09:53–10:46: Major parties announce they won’t contest by-election
• 11:25–12:40: How by-elections are triggered; technical process
• 13:50–15:57: Potential for delay, political calculations
• 17:26–19:19: Farage’s style, ‘happy place’ campaigning, campaign implications
• 24:19–27:41: Clacton’s unique electoral history and political geography
• 31:23–31:48: Farage’s penchant for resignation and risk-taking

---

Concluding Reflections

The episode frames Farage’s resignation and by-election announcement as a high-stakes, carefully staged maneuver to reassert control in the face of scandal, recenter himself in the national conversation, and fortify his “people vs. establishment” brand. The unusual near-unanimity of major parties not standing in the by-election underlines both the specificity of the moment and a collective desire to sidestep Farage’s narrative trap. The conversation closes with reminders that, in Farage’s story, political drama and personal risk are never far apart—and that Clacton again sits at the epicenter of UK politics’ most unpredictable plotline.

---

Transcript

[Adam Fleming]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. All new drinks are now at McDonald's with refreshers like the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher and the Mango Pineapple Refresher with Popping Boba to crafted sodas like the Sprite Berry Blast with berry flavors and cold foam. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire six. All new drinks are here now at McDonald's. Refreshers contain caffeine. Hello. At lunchtime on Tuesday, Nigel Farage put out a tantalizing message on social media saying he'd be delivering a statement about his future in public life at 2pm Here is a key part of the statement that came.

[Alex Forsyth]

I thought about it hard and I've decided today. Today I will resign as a Member of Parliament for Clacton on Sea, thereby

[Adam Fleming]

forcing a by election which should happen,

[Alex Forsyth]

I hope, in short order. Now I've decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions. This will be a people versus the establishment by election. It's a chance to stick two fingers up to the entire establishment to frankly

[Adam Fleming]

tell them where to go.

[Alex Forsyth]

And that is why I will be putting my name forward to stand in this by election.

[Adam Fleming]

I will fight to win.

[Alex Forsyth]

I will fight to continue the political revolution that reform has started.

[Adam Fleming]

What does it all mean and what's going on? We'll discuss on this episode of Newscast,

[Alex Forsyth]

Newscast, Newscast from the BBC.

[Adam Fleming]

I will resign as leader of the Labour Party.

[Alex Forsyth]

And what will you do?

[Chris Mason]

Stare at a wall? Humanity's next great voyage begins.

[Alex Forsyth]

You know, I like my buses.

[Adam Fleming]

I'll come on to them. It's supposed to be me as a doctor.

[Alex Forsyth]

Ooh la la. Thinking it like a panto helped. Do we play music now or what do we do?

[Adam Fleming]

Hello, it's Adam in the newscast studio

[Chris Mason]

and it is Chris in a rather lively restaurant in Ankara in Turkey at the NATO summit on the Prime Minister's last big foreign trip in office, in all likelihood. But actually I found myself talking about Nigel Farage all afternoon.

[Adam Fleming]

And we're recording this episode of newscast at 6:30 on Tuesday evening. So perfect timing to hear the sounds of a lovely, delicious Turkish restaurant. And Alex is joining us from Westminster. Hello, Alex.

[Alex Forsyth]

Hello.

[Adam Fleming]

Right, all thoughts then, away from Turkey and the future of the Western NATO alliance to what's going to happen in Clacton. Alex, should we just do a little bit of the timeline then? So Nigel Farage posted this thing on social media at lunchtime saying I will be making a statement about my political future. Cue loads of speculation.

[Alex Forsyth]

Cue massive speculation. And every journalist and politico of every description suddenly trying to wonder or work out what that might mean. Obviously, the background and the context was that he's face lots of questions recently about his personal finances and he's given a series of interviews in which he have. Has. The interviews have been quite testy and so there have been questions swirling about this element of Nigel Farage's personal finances. And so people were going, right, well, what's he going to say? Because the, the little tease that he gave to the announcement he was going to make, we talked about, yeah, his future in public life. So people were thinking, oh, blimey, is he going to resign as leader of Reform uk, even though the party is obviously consistently topping the opinion polls? Could he resign as an mp, trigger a by election? Could it be something else altogether? No one knew. But the speculation was, to put it mildly, rife.

[Adam Fleming]

And Chris, then when this statement came, and we should say that this was a statement that was broadcast live from Reform UK HQ with no journalists there and they were in control of the feed. So it wasn't like when you go to Downing street, set up a camera, film the Prime Minister making a statement and then you can maybe ask him some questions afterwards. So that was just the format for it. But Chris, there was a lot of build up to the big announcement from Farage in the statement itself.

[Chris Mason]

Yeah, there was. So, as Alex said, there was the build up and Nigel Farage is the master of political theatre with a teasing social media post about his future in public life, which allowed people to speculate in every conceivable direction about what was to come for a couple of hours. It certainly grabbed our attention on the plane on the way to the NATO summit. That's quite a thing, isn't it? The Prime Minister is heading to a meeting of the NATO Defence alliance, when Defence quite clearly is so, so prominent in the minds of so many Western governments, including our own. And then it's the Prime Minister's last big foreign trip and yet the attention of all of us lot rattling around in the back of the plane, this imminent, as it was then, statement from Nigel Farage, and then as we were speeding through the streets of the Turkish capital with all sorts of things to look at out of the window, what are we all doing? We're all staring at our phones waiting for this statement from Nigel Farage. And then, as you say, on top of the build up prior to the statement, the statement then built up to its headline. So Nigel Farage set out why, and he believes he's acted in good faith and with good conduct, despite the investigation that's underway by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. He's particularly angry, and I know this to be an authentic anger from him around what he feels is journalistic harassment of his family, in particular his daughter, and then built up to that conclusion that he will trigger a by election, resign his seat in Clacton and then stand in it. And I think in so doing, he is seizing the agenda. Because the key fact, I think, in all of this is that it was a possible outcome of the existing inquiry, that we could end up with a by election in the end anyway. And in that scenario, we were several stages from that scenario. But in that scenario, Nigel Farage would be backed into a by election. In this scenario, he is volunteering one, he is seizing the attention and he's creating this kind of split screen moment over the summer where in all likelihood, there's Nigel Farage on one side of it in Clacton and there is Andy Burnham, the new Prime Minister, in a couple of weeks, in all likelihood on the other, fighting for attention, and two of the central characters, if you like, in all likelihood, in our politics at Westminster for the next couple of years.

[Adam Fleming]

And we can talk about that potential televisual drama in a second. But, Alex, let's just zoom in on that process that Chris was talking about there, the potential timeline of this Parliamentary Standards inquiry that was already underway into Nigel Farage. Let's just brainstorm how that could have led to a by election anyway. And bearing in mind that is a complete guesstimate of how something might happen.

[Alex Forsyth]

Yeah, yeah, let's indulge the guesstimate. Why not? So we should say that that's that inquiry, that investigation was by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner into that undeclared 5 million pound that Nigel Farage received from the cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne, which Mr. Farage always said was a personal gift. And so, from his perspective, he didn't have to declare it, but there is this ongoing investigation into whether he should have declared it according to the Parliamentary rules after he became an mp. Now, there are lots of different sanctions that the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner can choose to impose if they think that the rules have been broken. Actually, it goes to a committee of MPs on the standards Committee who make the final thing, but the judgment in the initial instance comes from the Commissioner. It goes to a committee of MPs who then decide on the possible sanction if somebody is found to have broken the rules. And one of those sanctions could have been a suspension. And then if Mr. Farage had been suspended as an MP for a long enough period of time, that could have triggered what's called a recall petition in his constituency, which mean it would be up to the voters of Acton whether or not they would then trigger a by election. So, as Chris said, there were a whole number of hurdles, and we don't know if that would have been the outcome of this parliamentary inquiry. But what Nigel Farage has done is almost get ahead of that, because that is clearly a prospect that he had in his mind. And instead what he's done is attempt to call. Well, he has. He's triggered the by election on his own terms. It's also just worth mentioning about the process with that Parliamentary Standards Commissioner inquiry that's now paused because this by election has been triggered, but that doesn't mean it's ended. So if Nigel Farage gets reelected as the MP for Clacton, that investigation could resume. And it's my understanding and greater minds than me, including that of the esteemed Chris Mason, can correct me if I'm wrong, but actually that even if Nigel Farage doesn't get elected or reelected as the Clacton MP after the by election, that inquiry could still resume and reach a finding at the end of it.

[Chris Mason]

Yeah, I believe that is the case. And so he doesn't escape the scrutiny. Instead he seeks to reframe it. And we've seen him attempt to do that, haven't we, in his language this afternoon. So this idea of it being the people versus what he labels as the establishment, I think we should say that for many years, plenty would seek those who he is labeling as such as being part of the kind of infrastructure, the architecture of scrutiny that exists in a democracy, whether that be, you know, the Parliamentary Standards Commission or indeed robust journalism from the Sunday Times and others. But that's how he's trying to frame it, a kind of tussle about where sovereignty lies. And then what's interesting, but I don't think surprising, is what we've seen in the hours since the statement, which is plenty of other political parties, not least Labour, in just the last couple of minutes, as we record, saying they won't put up a candidate in the by election. Effectively, they don't want to be sort of walk on actors in a reform pantomime. And therefore, to what extent does that suck some of the excitement, jeopardy, interest out of the by election? Clearly it's not in the interest of reforms opponents to fan the flames of that, they'd Rather do the opposite. They'd rather snuff it out and try and claim that it is a. It's a publicity stunt. And it's that kind of language that we're hearing from Labour, the Liberal Democrats and others.

[Adam Fleming]

Yeah, Alex, can we just do a little tally then, of all the parties we think are not going to stand in this by election? So, last few minutes, Labour say, saying. No, earlier, the Lib Dem saying all parties should boycott it. And as part of that call, they said they would definitely boycott it.

[Alex Forsyth]

Yeah. And the Conservatives have said they won't stand a candidate because they think that that parliamentary investigation should be allowed to run its course. And then if there were to be a by election after that, they'd stand in that, but they're not standing in this one. And then Restore Britain, which is the party set up by Rupert Lowe, who was of course a former Reform UK MP himself, they've said they won't stand a candidate in this by election for very similar reasons that the other parties are saying the Green Party, the decision would be made by their local branch, so the Clacton branch of the Green Party, but they do contest by elections, in their words. Although Zach Polanski, the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, has been pretty scathing about the actions of Nigel Farage today.

[Adam Fleming]

Chris, what we were trying to work out earlier on is, if so the process for a by election happening is that the MP resigns, they then get appointed technically by the treasury to one of these two jobs. It sounds like they're from the. From Game of Thrones, which are the sort of the old fashioned jobs that signal an MP has resigned, then that MPs political party does what's called moving the writ in the Commons, which is then the trigger for the timetable for the by election happening. But it seems to me that it's actually for the Commons and the speaker collectively to decide if that by election goes ahead. It's not necessarily automatic. Or is it?

[Chris Mason]

So, to walk us through this, you're right. In terms of the parliamentary formalities, you can't tell technically resign as an mp, you have to be appointed to something. That means you can no longer be an mp, which is a Crown appointment, and the two of them are to be the Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds, or the Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead. Nigel Farage is seeking to do that as quickly as he can. Actually, the issuing of that as a title is in the gift of the Treasury. Curiously, as you Were just saying there, once that happens, it is then for the party who has resigned the seat to move the writ. But there is an element of the parliamentary authorities involved in that. And then on top of that, there is a question that can involve the local authority where the by election is happening as well, around the practicalities of when that by election happens. So there's a few moving parts there. It's certainly reform's intention that this happens as quickly as possible. They'd like it to happen, I think, next month. They certainly want to see the writ moved in the next week and a bit. Parliament breaks up as things stand for the summer at the back end of next week. So they're anticipating reform by election in August, which would then coincide in all likelihood with the early weeks of Andy Burnham as Prime Minister.

[Adam Fleming]

Yeah, I was looking at my phone calendar earlier on and the House of Commons library briefing, and I was working out that the absolute earliest this by election could be would be the 6th of August. But that from listening to you, Chris, there, that sounds like me being maybe a little bit premature and it probably wouldn't be quite as soon as that.

[Chris Mason]

Well, no, that's interesting. That's interesting and actually useful and not just for me, but I suspect quite a few people around this Turkish restaurant who are trying to think about their sort of summer holiday plans and all that, with a splash of democracy to keep an eye on.

[Adam Fleming]

I mean, Clacton is a very good location for summer holidays, having been to many by elections there in the past. You're never far away from an ice cream or fish and chips. And so, Chris, just. I'm going to let you go back to covering world affairs in a second, but do you think there is any jeopardy here that actually this by election is postponed for quite a long time? Because I'm seeing, like the Lib Dems, for example, saying that Rachel Reeves the. And the. The Chancellor in the treasury should. Should not allow Farage to have the resignation and to be put into one of those posts as a resigned MP that would trigger the byelection as quickly as normally, because normally it happens in the space of a couple of days. But it sounds like there is some. There is some discretion there.

[Chris Mason]

Yeah, there is some discretion. And when these sort of processes are triggered by a party for whatever ends they seek, it does involve others who don't share their objectives, either procedurally because they want to ensure things are in the right place, etc. Etc. Or because there's a desire to sort of act. Act politically in the midst of A very political moment. So, you know, let's see. Of course this is intensely political and so an intensely political act provokes intensely political reaction. I think it's probably more likely than not the by election happens sooner rather than later because I suspect in the end for the opposition parties to reform reforms opponents, they'd probably rather this be over sooner rather than later as well. But, yeah, let's see how the process churns through. And yeah, might be in all likelihood of another item on the political agenda over the summer.

[Adam Fleming]

And also, presumably the opposition parties to reform will not want to fuel the reform narrative that there's an establishment stitch up going on to prevent Nigel Farage becoming Prime Minister in the future. And so actually they might, they might like to throw a bit of sand in the gears, but they won't want to gum up the gears entirely because that. That feeds into that narrative.

[Chris Mason]

I think that's right. And they're acutely aware of the, from their perspective, the danger of that narrative. You know, they raised a bit of flak, not just from reform, about the government's idea to tighten the rules about donations from people living abroad and trying to extend that to a period of time where they'd have to be resident in the UK before a donation could be made. And some conservatives as well as reform figures felt that that was effectively just a new law gunning for a political opponent in reform. Labour make an argument it's about ensuring this kind of proper checks and balances in our democracy. So, yeah, no, Labour and others are acutely aware of the danger, the power, from reform's perspective of that argument of, if you like, quote unquote, the people versus the establishment, as Nigel Farage puts it. And we'll be nervous about being seen to fuel it. So that'll play into it. Absolutely.

[Adam Fleming]

Chris, talking of fuel, I think you have earned a lamb kofter on us, so enjoy.

[Chris Mason]

Thank you. I think one might have just arrived. There's something sizzling as well. I think it might be a picture prawn or something sizzling in a big bowl. Anyway, get more than one prawn or

[Adam Fleming]

certainly more than one prawn for the whole lobby. Anyway, I'll see you soon. Safe travels to our boat.

[Chris Mason]

See ya.

[Adam Fleming]

All new drinks are now at McDonald's with refreshers like the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher and the Mango Pineapple Refresher with Popping Boba. To crafted sodas like the Sprite Berry Blast with berry flavors and cold foam. Who knew ice cold drinks could be

[Alex Forsyth]

so fire six all new drinks are

[Adam Fleming]

here now at McDonald's. Refreshers contain caffeine and maybe we'll talk about defence another day. Alex, I was just thinking, actually, Chris's image there of the split screen summer blockbuster is actually quite a good one, where you've got potentially Andy Burnham establishing himself as a new Prime Minister while Nigel Farage is trying to re establish himself as the, as the MP for Clacton and the future Prime Minister. But I wonder if actually it's not so much a split screen moment as this is a. This is actually a Nigel Farage remake of what Andy Burnham has just done. In other words, using a very local campaign where he's got a sort of built in advantage to turn it into a huge big advert for a future Premiership.

[Alex Forsyth]

Well, I mean, let's make no bones about it. When there is a by election campaign and by election campaigns by their very nature attract more attention than an election would in the normal cycle because it's on its own as a opposed to one of many. And when you get a by election campaign with a high profile candidate standing exactly as we saw with Andy Burnham in Makerfield and as we will see with Nigel Farage in Clacton, it does get a lot of attention and it therefore does allow the people who are contesting that election to have their kind of message broadcast through the papers or social media or old school broadcast journalists like us, kind of loud and clear. And I suspect, you know, obviously this decision by Nigel Farage to deliberately trigger this by election wouldn't have been made without careful consideration. And one of the considerations he inevitably would have given it would be about trying to, as Chris said, seize the initiative and also, I think, you know, get reform back on the front foot after there have been these questions over Nigel Farage and his finances. And Nigel Farage is in his happy place when he's campaigning. You know, he is one of those politicians that likes to campaign, or at least he comes across like he likes to campaign and is broadly thought of to be pretty good on the campaign trail when it comes to things like his interactions with the public. I think what changes this is a couple of things potentially. First off, whether the other parties contest, and it looks like most of the major parties are not going to because they've already said that. So which and what other parties choose to contest this by election will undoubtedly change the nature of that fight. And then also what the public, because I think, you know, underestimate the public at your expense. And I think what the public make of the context of this by election, whether they go along with what Nigel Farage is suggesting, which is that, you know, it's the right thing that the people of Clacton decide, or whether or not they think that actually Nigel Farage, as other political opponents of his have said, are doing this effectively for his own interests.

[Adam Fleming]

Now, I don't want to do too much armchair psychoanalysis of Nigel Farage because he sort of. He eschews that himself. But I just wondered for you, having watched and followed Nigel Farage in lots of different scenarios and situations and even countries, how he seemed today in his. His address. And the reason I'm asking that question is because when I was watching it on my phone while I was preparing my very late lunch in the kitchen, I thought the first two thirds of his statement sounded like somebody who was about to resign because the pressure had got too much, or not necessarily the pressure, but the costs on his family and actually the cost to himself financially of all his security was getting too much. And then it was like handbrake turn.

[Alex Forsyth]

Yeah, it was. I was actually also watching it on my phone, but stood outside the Reform UK building in which no one was allowed in. Yeah. So I was stood there to try and nab a word with him, after which I spectacularly failed to do. But I was also watching on my phone and I think, look, I think that, that. I think it is important not to overly analyze Nigel Farage's, you know, how he's coming across or anything. But part of the reason there was such rife speculation about what this announcement may have been today from Nigel Farage, after his little social media tease about the fact that one was coming, was the fact that he'd given this series of interviews, including with Sally Nugent on BBC Breakfast, where he had been, you know, his answers had been quite short. He come across as quite kind of angry, really, about the questions that he was being asked around his personal finances. And as Chris said, there was this extra element about what he saw as the media haranguing, in his words, members of his family around all of this. So he's had these kind of testy media encounters and obviously some in the party openly, including the former chairman, David Bull, after some of those media encounters and interviews, suggested that Nigel Farage might need to take a break, in his words. And then he made the argument that's because he was being plagued with questions about his personal finances and was distracting from Reform UK's policies. So, yeah, and other other senior figures in reform said, no, no, no, don't be Silly. That's not. Not the case at all. But you know, the point is it's been a kind of subject of discussion. So I think today that's. That was why people were watching this so closely, to see what he was going to say. And you're right, what it did feel like from Nigel Farage was him much more in his kind of the place where he likes to be able to frame this argument. He likes to lean back on this notion of reform as the insurgent party against what he characterizes as the establishment. That's where he kind of seems to be comfortable making a political argument. And he was really doing that today. That was the kind of whole premise of, of him saying why he was doing what he was doing and triggering this by election. So he did seem more comfortable in that respect. But it is also notable that, you know, it was. And you know, people will make their own view on whether this is right or wrong. And politicians, you know, some people might think don't have to subject themselves to sub to questions from the media all the time. Some people might like that absolutely fine. But it's also worth saying that Nigel Fares chose to do in that format where he didn't subject himself to questions. It was a sort of pre prepared statement that he kind of delivered. And on the content, I'm with you for the last. For the first kind of few minutes of it, I was a bit like, where's this going then? You know, I wasn't sure from his first few opening remarks what the outcome of that statement was going to be. It wasn't until he got quite far into it that it became clear that he was kind of, you know, triggering a byelection, wanting to fight. Mm.

[Adam Fleming]

I also thought it was intriguing to see Nigel Farage the dad, because that's an aspect and facet of his life and personality. I'd never even thought about it before, even though I knew he had. He had quite a few children and they're quite grown up, most of them.

[Alex Forsyth]

Yeah, well, I mean, on the father front, he made the point himself that he doesn't, in his words, use his children. You know, he doesn't pose for photo opportunities with them or. And you know that he, although his

[Adam Fleming]

daughter did come out or one of his daughters did come out to see him when he was in the jungle on I'm a Celebrity.

[Alex Forsyth]

Oh, I didn't watch that. Isn't that terrible?

[Adam Fleming]

Neither did I, but I did go through the archives this afternoon.

[Alex Forsyth]

Okay. Okay, good. That makes me feel slightly better. Yeah, but I mean, I think he was sort of arguing that in his, you know, he's never sort of paraded his children around as part of his political career or campaigning. And that's why I think you did get the sense of a very real anger from him at what he saw as. As the media intrusion when it came to his family. And for him, he was sort of saying that that kind of effectively, I paraphrase, but crossed a line. And you did get a glimpse of what seemed to be quite a genuine anger on that front when it. When it came to his family. But, yeah, he doesn't talk about that a lot at all. I think overall, what you saw was. And I sort of repeat it, but I think it's true. Nigel Farage, back in campaigning mode. Some might argue that he's never been out of campaigning mode because, of course, they're not a party of national government, although they are a party of local government, you know, so as an opposition party, you might naturally campaign a bit more than people who are running things, as it were. But I think today it just felt like he was leaning back into that, you know, shaping arguments around what he saw as the party's position and really laying the groundwork for whatever happens in Clacton in the next few weeks.

[Adam Fleming]

Should we do a little Clacton political geography history lesson?

[Alex Forsyth]

Oh, God, yeah. Go on, then. Go on. You're gonna test me now? Cause I haven't actually, because I stood outside Reform HQ for about three hours.

[Adam Fleming]

You've not had time to go on anymore.

[Alex Forsyth]

I've not done my full Clacton research. So go on, hit me, hit me.

[Adam Fleming]

Well, no, no, I don't mean a test. I mean a collaborative conversation.

[Alex Forsyth]

Okay, then.

[Adam Fleming]

I'm not sure everyone will learn together.

[Alex Forsyth]

Lovely.

[Adam Fleming]

I remember first time going to clacton, probably in 2014, and that's because Douglas Carswell, who was a Conservative MP and one of the real driving forces behind, like, the modern Euroscepticism in the Conservative Party, he defected to ukip, which would eventually become Reform uk, and was then,

[Alex Forsyth]

of course, led by Nigel Farah.

[Adam Fleming]

Yes. And he had a by election and he won it when he. Yeah, when he swapped. When he changed parties and he won

[Alex Forsyth]

when he crossed the floor. Yeah.

[Adam Fleming]

And my main memory from that, and sorry, newscasters, I have told this story before, is I remember filming down at the seafront in Clacton and a mural had appeared on the wall, and it was about anti immigration, criticizing people who were anti immigrant. And I was like, that looks like a Banksy filmed it. Thought I'll put that in the top of my piece. That's on in a couple of days time. And then in the meantime, it was revealed to be a Banksy legitimately. So I had filmed a brand new Banksy by accident.

[Alex Forsyth]

Wow, that's saying something, innit? And did you, before you broadcast it, realise it was a Banksy or did you just put it out?

[Adam Fleming]

No, I think we learned between filming and publishing, publishing, broadcasting, that content, that it was a Banksy. So.

[Alex Forsyth]

Wow, that's good.

[Adam Fleming]

I was just the first. I was the first. First, first broadcast. Eyes to see it.

[Alex Forsyth]

I actually don't know if I've ever been to Clacton.

[Adam Fleming]

I mean, it's a.

[Alex Forsyth]

It's.

[Adam Fleming]

I mean, that's really the part of

[Alex Forsyth]

the world because I spend a lot of time traveling around the country and I was just trying to rack my brains to remember if I've actually been to climb Clacton. I'm gonna, I don't know, look through my photo roll on my camera and see if I can spot a Clacton, but if I haven't, I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up there at

[Adam Fleming]

some point in the next few weeks if the by election happens.

[Alex Forsyth]

And I shall look forward to it.

[Adam Fleming]

Yeah. Very interesting stretch of coastline with lots of. Lots of contrasts. Also, I remember in the. Oh, I think this might be in the Channel 4 Brexit drama with Benedict Cumberbatch as Dominic Cummings. There's a scene in that where I think he goes to visit some. Some people in Clacton, who are these classical people who had never really voted in general elections, but were interested in voting for Brexit in a referendum. And I think for, at least for the Benedict Cumberbatch version of Dominic Cummings, that was a very important moment.

[Alex Forsyth]

Well, I just think there's a really important part, like you said, politically interesting part of that part of the world, if I can say part any more times, I'll try not to. And because it is, you know, there's often a lot of focus on what is really bluntly or crudely called the kind of left behind towns of the Midlands and the north of England. But actually when you get to that part of the kind of southeast coast, so the Essex and Kent coastal towns in particular, there are quite a lot of those that mirror that same sentiment. But because they're sort of lumped in, very broadly speaking, with the kind of affluent southeast, with London as the big engine for growth, I think maybe there are some people that live in that part of the world. World who feel not only the same kind of feelings about people that live in the Midlands, in the north of England, about their particular communities being a bit unloved or overlooked by politics more broadly, but might even be a bit exacerbated by the fact that they are in a part of the country or a region of the country, which isn't necessarily seen as that, despite the fact that they can often feel it, which adds to that kind of politically interesting element of those areas.

[Adam Fleming]

I'm also thinking about Halton, Price and howden.

[Alex Forsyth]

Oh, yeah, 2008.

[Adam Fleming]

Eight. Yes, yes. And that was when David Davis was in the Conservative shadow cabinet and he resigned from the shadow cabinet and as an MP in protest at the then Labour government's plans to extend the number of days a terror suspect could be held without charge. And people went, wow, what a reason to call a bile action. And he won it pretty, pretty soundly. But lots of the other parties didn't stand and he was accused of being a bit vain.

[Alex Forsyth]

Yeah, from memory, was it, I think Labour and the Liberal Democrats didn't stand, so he was a Conservative mp, obviously contesting that seat. I think the English Democrats and the Greens did stand, but Labour and the Liberal Democrats didn't. And he did sort of proclaim victory for his cause, which was civil liberties. But yeah, I think the. When other parties don't, don't stand it, they do it very deliberately, don't they, as a strategy to try and take the wind out of the sails as the person that's triggered the by election. And obviously the aim of the parties that choose not to run in any contest is to effectively kind of try and diminish the victory of whoever, who, whoever ends up winning. Whereas I guess the victors might argue, you know, people could choose to stand if they want to and the voters have a verdict.

[Adam Fleming]

And also this is a very different set of circumstances and I'm loath to. Well, I was about to. For what I'm about to say and I'm loathe to make any comparisons between the two, but this is just from my own personal experience as a reporter was when I went to Batley in Spain for the by election after Jo Cox was killed, lots of the main political parties said as a mark of respect, they would not stand there because Jo Cox's sister was the Labour candidate and the party thought that would be a respectful thing to do. But I met a lot of people in the constituency who said, yeah, we get the respect point, point, but we feel like we're not really being given a choice. And it's still democracy. And you can be respectful, but you also have to be respectful of democracy. And so I wonder if there's potential for the other parties not standing to backfire if that's what happens.

[Alex Forsyth]

Well, possibly, because there might be people. I mean, there will absolutely be people that do want to vote for Nigel Farage because they did that at the last election. But the people who don't want to vote for Nigel Farage might want an alternative and might feel a bit peeved not having one. Who knows? I mean, there's so many variables in a by election like this. There are in any, any in any kind of by election, but when it's kind of high profile like this, there's just so many variables. It's kind of, you know, hard at this stage to see how it will all run. But I do think it's fair to say it's a big political gamble.

[Adam Fleming]

Alex, just to check through the archives, where were you when Nigel Farage actually became the mp?

[Alex Forsyth]

Oh, I was in Clacton.

[Adam Fleming]

Yeah, I was thinking that as you were saying, I don't know if I've ever been. I was like. I remember watching you, literally there.

[Alex Forsyth]

There you go. This is why my brain is a bit fuzzy. I do in the very best.

[Adam Fleming]

You were stood outside before HQ in the sun for too long.

[Alex Forsyth]

I do get around the country in the very best possible way and I absolutely love that. But sometimes I might have forgotten where I've been. But to be fair, in my defense, I was in the count hall through the night. So it's not like I was out really seeing and experiencing Clacton. I was just in that kind of slightly weird bubble when it's the wee hours of the morning and all the votes are being counted.

[Adam Fleming]

Don't worry, you don't need to explain.

[Alex Forsyth]

I do.

[Chris Mason]

I feel like.

[Alex Forsyth]

I know and I feel terrible.

[Adam Fleming]

And also, I'm just reading your copy from that night. It was his eighth attempt to become an mp.

[Alex Forsyth]

Yes, it was his eighth attempt to become an mp. Yeah. And yeah, he finally got there. So this will be his ninth. Does it count like that? I guess not. Ninth attempt to become an mp, but certainly ninth. Ninth election for an MP seat that he's fought.

[Adam Fleming]

And also we were speculating about. Oh, is this speech going to be him resigning? You've actually been to a few of Nigel Farage's resignations as well.

[Alex Forsyth]

Yeah, I really have because he resigned as the leader of YOUGIP and then kind of returned a few days later on, I chased him down to Brussels in between to try and get a little chat with him about it all. So, yeah, I mean, that's the thing about Nigel Farage. He is a political gambler. Do you know what I mean? He's walked away from some big jobs before, he's quit before, he's come back before, more than once to previous.

[Adam Fleming]

I mean, he nearly died in a plane crash on election day.

[Alex Forsyth]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, he is. He's kind of. He's not afraid of being in the political fray, as it were, and he's put himself straight back in it by doing what he did today. But, you know, it's. I think obviously now the context is slightly different because of reform's position in the polls. You know, it's a different thing to where he was when he was at the helm of the previous parties that he led, so the Brexit party or ukip, for example. And, yeah, it's going to come down largely, I guess, to what the voters make of it.

[Adam Fleming]

Right, it's nearly seven o' clock as we approach the end of this recording of this episode of Newscast. Any delicious mezzy beckoning for you?

[Alex Forsyth]

Sadly not, no. I might try and grab a sort of, I don't know, stale sandwich from somewhere because I'm a bit starving, but no mezze. I missed the top of your conversation. Was Chris having a lovely meal?

[Adam Fleming]

Well, he was in a restaurant in Ankara.

[Alex Forsyth]

Oh, yeah.

[Adam Fleming]

That's why I said, go and have some kofta on us. It wasn't just like here. I've revoluted you 20 quid for your dinner on expenses.

[Alex Forsyth]

No, I think mine's going to be, I don't know, cold cup of coffee and whatever sandwich I can grab, I reckon. But I'm not moaning.

[Adam Fleming]

No, it's a privilege. It's a privilege.

[Alex Forsyth]

Of course it is.

[Adam Fleming]

Right, I'll see you soon. Either here or Clacton or somewhere.

[Alex Forsyth]

Clacton. I'll get to Clacton proper, I promise. Cheers, Adam.

[Adam Fleming]

By.

[Alex Forsyth]

Bye now.

[Adam Fleming]

While I was away last week, Alex was in the hot seat managing your messages about Supporter Reporter, where we're looking for a newscaster in every single one of the 48 countries at the World Cup. Although there's fewer in it now, but may as well try and get them all. And so we had the USA vs Belgium match on the previous episode of Newscast, and we've had a message from Manon, who says, writing to you or Manon, Sorry, I'm writing to you from Adam's old Stomping ground of Brussels, where I'll be supporting Belgium's Red Devils. I was born and raised in the lovely town of Namur, south of Brussels. Moved to the capital for work a few days before the whole world shut down because of COVID So instead of discovering fully the city, I had plenty of time to listen to Newscast. You guys have kept me company since Brexitcast and you made it to the top of my Spotify wrap every year since. So thank you very much, Manon. And she ends her message with Allez les diables, which is go the Devils. And as we are recording this episode of Newscast, Egypt versus Argentina is reaching its thrilling conclusion. I'm just looking through the glass of the studio to get an update from producer Jack. Where are we? There are 10 seconds left and it's 3, 2 to Argentina, which is bizarre because when I sat down in the studio, it was 2 nil to Egypt. So that very dramatic match is about to reach a very dramatic conclusion. Watching it will be two newscasters because we had a message from Steve who sent this message from Argentina. He says, I'm from the Falklands. I'm currently traveling in Argentina and Uruguay. I spent this morning walking around General San Martin park in Mendoza listening to newscast. The entire country is daubed in white and blue and I think the entire country will probably be celebrating massively in about 8 seconds time. But then we also had an email from Sara who is volunteering to represent Egypt. She says, I'm British, Egyptian. I'm especially thrilled by Egypt's historic run and I will be up late and holding out for a miracle against Argentina tonight. Thanks for keeping me up to date with UK news as I move around the world. So I reckon Sara had a brilliant first half while Steve was not so sure. And then that flipped massively in the last few minutes because I think the whistle has just gone. Argentina 3, Egypt 2. So congratulations to Steve and Mendoza and commiserations to Sara in Egypt. I feel like I'm presenting 5 Life. Right. Thank you very much as well to them for joining as our supporter reporters. We've still got quite a few countries to go and we do want to get a supporter in every single country, all 48 by the end of the World Cup. So we still need your entries and you can send them to newscastbc.co.uk or you can WhatsApp us on 033-01-239480 and we'll be back with another newscast very soon. Bye bye.

[Alex Forsyth]

Newscast, Newscast from the BBC from one Newscast to another. Thank you so much for making it to the end of this episode. You clearly do, in the words of Chris Mason, ooze stamina. Can I also gently encourage you to subscribe to us on BBC Sounds? Tell everyone you know. And don't forget, you can email us [e-mail] or if you're that way inclined, send us a WhatsApp on 4400-330-1239480. Be assured, I promise, we listen to everyone. Is the American Dream still possible? I'm Asma Khalid, one of the hosts of the Global Story podcast from the BBC. One of the most successful exports the United States has ever sold the world. Is the American Dream that tantalizing promise of a better, freer, richer life? But is it still attainable?

[Adam Fleming]

I feel like the American Dream is alive, but not well.

[Alex Forsyth]

For more, listen to the global story on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.