Nigel Farage has unexpectedly resigned as the Member of Parliament for Clacton-on-Sea. Farage says he is resigning as MP for Clacton, triggering a by-election in the constituency - which he'll stand in.

Farage's resignation is the latest twist in a long and often tumultuous career in politics. A former leader of the UK Independence Party, he has been a key figure in the debate over Brexit, and has been a vocal critic of the government's handling of of more recent issues under Reform UK. His resignation is a significant development, and one that is likely to have far-reaching consequences for British politics.

The decision has sparked widespread speculation about his political strategy and the message he hopes to send to both supporters and opponents. While resignations from Parliament are uncommon, voluntarily forcing a by-election to seek a renewed mandate has occasionally been used by politicians seeking to strengthen their position or highlight a particular issue.

Whether the move strengthens Farage's position or proves to be a political gamble remains to be seen. What is certain is that his resignation has added another dramatic chapter to one of the most controversial and influential careers in modern British politics, ensuring that attention will once again be firmly focused on Clacton and the future direction of Reform UK.

Nigel Farage suggested “the establishment” had chosen to use “foul means” to beat Reform UK as he said he had “not broken the law in any way at all”.

In a televised statement, the party leader pointed to electoral gains it made in May and said: “It seems to me that the establishment have now decided that they can’t beat us fairly, so they’ve chosen to use foul means.

“Let me be absolutely clear, after the furore and the media pile-on, well, not just the media, the other political parties too – let me be absolutely clear – I have done nothing wrong.

“I have not broken the law in any way at all. I have not misused public money, and you know, for the first two years of being an MP, my personal MP expenses are zero, not of course that you’ll read about that in mainstream media.”