Lee Anderson accuses Badenoch of 'running scared' after attack on Nigel Farage 'hissy fit'

Lee Anderson has launched a scathing attack on Kemi Badenoch after branding Nigel Farage's resignation as Clacton MP a "hissy fit".

Speaking to GB News, the Reform UK chairman accused the Tory leader of "running scared" after refusing to confirm whether she would stand a candidate in the upcoming by-election. The party have now confirmed they will not be competing in the "fake" contest.

During a live event with Politico, Mrs Badenoch took aim at Mr Farage's decision, declaring "nobody is above the law".

She said: "He went on telly having a hissy fit because for the first time, he is finally having to face some scrutiny after a very long honeymoon and he cannot handle it.

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"All of us MPs have to register our donations, we have to register our gifts, nobody is above the law. He decides that he doesn't want to do what everyone else has to do, that he is better than everybody, and now there's an investigation."

Tearing into Mrs Badenoch's reaction, Mr Anderson told GB News the Tories would have "probably lose their deposit" in Clacton altogether.

He said: "I think this just proves that the Tories are running scared. They know they will probably lose their deposit in Clacton, they had a poor showing last time.

"Bear in mind this should have been and was a safe Tory seat, and I think Nigel had one of the biggest swings at the last general election. I think Kemi is running scared."

Defending Mr Farage's decision, Mr Anderson argued: "There's a fine line between the upset that Nigel felt over the past few days, few weeks and that's sort of boiled over into a little bit of anger as well, when the mainstream media start targeting your family, they crossed the line.

"All of Westminster has been against Nigel since day one, that's increased over the past two years. It's got to a point now where Nigel's said it's not up to Westminster, it's not up to the mainstream media to decide on what his fate is. It's up to the people of Clacton, and I'm sure they will turn out in thousands to re-elect Nigel at the next by election."

Pressed by GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope on the by-election, the Reform UK MP was questioned on the possibility of two ballots should Mr Farage be found guilty in an investigation into his finances.

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He said: "If there is a second by-election that will make a complete mockery of Westminster. It is a bit of a laughing stock at the moment. I go there every day and the public are getting more and more fed up with that place.

"So this is a chance for the people of Clacton to decide who they want as their member of Parliament. It's not up to that place, it's up to the people of Clacton, let them decide."

Challenged on how soon the by-election will be, Mr Anderson revealed it could potentially take place in the "first weeks of August".

He told GB News: "Hopefully I can move the writ tomorrow in the Commons, that's up to the Treasury, that's up to Rachel Reeves.

"The letter's been sent in and we've had confirmation. And I know Nigel spoke to the Treasury within the last hour. Hopefully I can move that writ tomorrow if they come back to us, and then we're looking at the first couple of weeks in August."

Mr Anderson also assured Reform UK would "cover the cost" of the by-election in Clacton, expected to be around £230,000.

He told Christopher: "We will cover the cost of the by-election; we will send a cheque to the Treasury, simple as that.

"The by-election will be run by the local council in Clacton, they'll have to pay for it, and then they normally claim the money back from from the Treasury, from the Government. And we will make an offer to reimburse the Treasury the full cost of the by-election, we couldn't be fairer than that."

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