In a typical populist manoeuvre, Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform Party, announced at midday that he is resigning as MP for Clacton-on-Sea, a decision that will trigger a by-election in which he has already confirmed he will stand again as a candidate. Farage justified the move by stating that he wants the electors, and not the Westminster "establishment", to judge his conduct after the controversy generated in recent weeks by parliamentary investigations into his finances.