Anti-immigration campaigner and Brexit champion Nigel Farage stepped back into British politics on Monday, announcing he will take charge of the right-wing party Reform U.K. and run for Parliament in the July 4 election.
Farage, 60, had previously said he would not be a candidate in order to help support Donald Trump in the U.S presidential election in November. But he changed his mind, saying he wanted to stand up for those who supported him and not let them down.
“I can’t turn my back on those millions of people who followed me, believed in me,” Farage told a news conference. “I’ve changed my mind because I can’t let down millions of people.”
Farage acknowledged that his larger goal is to lead the “real” opposition to a Labour Party government if Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's governing Conservative Party loses in the upcoming election. He aims to lead a “political revolt” focusing on health care and infrastructure problems.
Although Farage, now a TV host, has stood unsuccessfully for Parliament seven times, he is still an influential British figure who helped lead the successful Brexit campaign, which saw the country leave the European Union.
The Conservative Party has led Britain for 14 years, and polls indicate that the opposition Labour Party is running ahead of the Conservatives.
Under pressure, Sunak. initiated policies that focused on tax cuts for pensioners, the reintroduction of national service — either volunteer work or military service — and a plan to send illegal asylum-seekers to Rwanda.
When asked if he was concerned about Farage's participation in the contest, Sunak said support for Reform U.K. would ultimately benefit the Labour Party.
A poll earlier this year predicted that Conservatives would win in the seaside town of Clacton-on-Sea, where Farage is running for a seat in Parliament.
While Farage has a chance to win the Clacton seat on July 4, his main objective is to lead the opposition against a Labour Party government if the Conservative Party loses the election.
"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 said.
Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
