Britain's Farage quits parliament in protest, but will stand for re-election

He says he wanted his constituents to decide if they still wanted him to be their lawmaker

Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage attends the opening of the party's campaign headquarters ahead of the Gorton and Denton by-election, triggered by the resignation of Andrew Gwynne, in Denton, Britain, Feb 5, 2026. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said on Tuesday he would quit as a lawmaker to trigger a by-election in his parliamentary seat and would stand for re-election in that vote.

Farage made the announcement at the end of a televised statement in which he railed against press intrusion into his family life and said the political establishment was doing all it could to hinder his party.

"This will be a people versus the establishment by-election," Farage said. "I will fight to win. I will fight to continue the political revolution that Reform has started."

Farage, who has come under heavy scrutiny over his finances in recent months, said he wanted his constituents to decide if they still wanted him to be their lawmaker.