By-election triggered following Farage's exit from parliament
by Joe Fisher · UPIJuly 9 (UPI) -- British lawmakers have triggered a by-election Thursday to replace Reform U.K. leader Nigel Farage in Parliament following his abrupt resignation.
Fellow Reform parliament member Lee Anderson motioned for a by-election to replace Farage in Parliament on Thursday. The decision sets in motion the process of holding a by-election as early as August 13, though the date is not yet set.
Farage, who led the Brexit Party which has become the Reform party, announced his resignation on Tuesday in response to concerns about his finances. Farage will vacate his seat based in Clacton, England, and run for election again.
Farage failed to disclose a gift of about $6.7 million from Christopher Harborne, a British cryptocurrency investor and donor to the Reform Party based in Thailand. He received the gift prior to entering Parliament.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg has opened an investigation into Farage over whether failing to disclose the $6.7 million gift violated the rules of the House of Commons.
Farage has argued that he did not need to disclose the gift because it was received before he held a seat in Parliament.
"I've decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions," Farage said in a speech livestreamed on social media. "This will be a people-versus-the-establishment by-election."
Farage's decision to push for a by-election has drawn skepticism from political opponents. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it a "desperate stunt," and Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said Farage "has spent his whole life dodging responsibility."