Nigel Farage delivers hammer blow to rival parties as he doubles down on resignation decision: 'Painted like a war criminal!

Nigel Farage has slated rival political leaders for saying they will not field candidates in the upcoming Clacton by-election and said he was being portrayed as if he were "a war criminal".

Speaking exclusively to GB News from his former Essex constituency, the Reform UK leader declared he "doesn't see why he should be judged by them".

Pressed by GB News National Reporter Will Godley on whether he believes the by-election is "unnecessary" given the reaction from the other parties, Mr Farage disagreed.

He said: "It's not a waste of money, because I've already said whatever the cost of this by-election, we as a party will cover the cost.

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"I've written to Rachel Reeves already and said that won't cost the taxpayer a single penny. So that's a start."

He continued: "Secondly, it seems that the media and political classes want to paint me out to be like a war criminal, as if everything I've ever done is wrong, is bent, is corrupt.

"I don't get a chance to properly answer it, and I don't see why I should be judged by them."

The Reform UK leader told the People's Channel if he does win the upcoming by-election, it will "send a big message to the establishment and the media".

He stated: "We'll ask the people here what they think, and if they give me a big endorsement, that sends a big message to the establishment.

"Both political parties and media, frankly, are not talking about the same things the country is talking about. These last two weeks, never-ending stories about me and Reform."

Mr Farage argued: "Why aren't we talking about the boats crossing the English Channel? Why aren't we talking about debt mounting in our country?

"Why aren't we talking about rising unemployment? It's almost as if all of this is a massive distraction for the real problems the country faces."

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The ex-Clacton MP made clear he has "done nothing wrong" and has "broken no laws" amid the ongoing allegations about his finances and undeclared donations.

He told GB News: "I've done nothing wrong at all. I've broken no laws; I haven't evaded tax. I haven't done anything wrong at all. I believe I'm completely within the spirit of the rules.

"Part of the problem, of course, is those that would be judging will be political opponents, and that is an issue."

Grilled on why he could not wait for the conclusion to the parliamentary investigation, he responded: "Because otherwise, this could go on for month after month after month of constantly being made out to the public to be some bad dude. Let the people decide.

"It seems that every single private detail of my life has been accessed illegally and is being put into the public domain. I think it's unfair. Even my family are being harassed; my daughter's being harassed. I think the whole thing is monstrous.

"If – and I say if – because it's up to people, we get a resounding big vote victory here, it sticks two fingers up to the establishment."

Mr Farage also denied it was embarrassing to be up against Count Binface after parties such as Labour, the Conservatives and Green confirmed they would not be standing candidates, saying: "In 2019, the Conservatives got 31,000 votes here. What do they do now? They try to stop the Essex County Council elections from going ahead.

"They don't want a general election, despite a new Prime Minister, and now they won't put a candidate up here. I'd say that says a lot more about them than it does about me."

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