03 June 2024 , 16:21
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He will also take over the leadership of Reform UK, promising to stay in post for five years.
Nigel Farage has announced he will stand as a candidate in Clacton in the general election on 4 July.
The honorary president of Reform had said he would not stand after the general election was called but that he would help Richard Tice’s party in its campaign.
The former UKIP leader previously said he had thought "long and hard" as to whether he should stand to become an MP in the 4 July vote, but that it was "not the right time".
However, he has now said "it would be wrong" for him not to stand and that he has changed his mind, adding that it is "not a sign of weakness" but a "sign of strength".
He said he would be standing in the Essex seat of Clacton.
There have been questions hanging over what role Mr Farage would play in the election, whether that be as a candidate to stand against the Tories or whether he could broker an election pact with Rishi Sunak.
Earlier, Mr Sunak downplayed the impact Mr Farage could have if he chose to stand as an election candidate, telling reporters: "One of two people will be prime minister - either Keir Starmer or me.
"A vote for anyone who’s not a Conservative candidate is just a vote to put Keir Starmer in Number 10."