Reform wouldn’t take Tory reject, Farage says as he calls for voters who think he’s a crook to get rid of him
Nigel Farage said Reform UK would not accept former Conservative cabinet minister Grant Shapps, after Shapps was reportedly barred from standing again for the Conservatives. Farage also defended his decision to trigger a Clacton by-election amid scrutiny of his finances, saying voters could remove him if they believed he was dishonest.
The parliamentary standards watchdog is examining whether Farage should have declared a £5 million gift from crypto businessman Christopher Harborne and support from George Cottrell, a convicted criminal; Farage says legal advice indicated no declaration was required. Labour and the Conservatives will not contest the by-election, leaving Farage among 34 candidates, while he has cited heightened security costs following the killing of Reform spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe.
- Farage rejects any prospect of Grant Shapps joining Reform UK.
- He says Clacton voters can judge allegations about his finances.
- Standards watchdog examines undeclared support linked to Farage.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters can argue that a by-election is a direct and legitimate way for Farage to renew his mandate while serious questions about his finances are being examined. They may say he is entitled to rely on legal advice unless a watchdog finds that disclosure rules were breached, and that voters—not party rivals—should decide whether they still trust him. On this view, refusing to admit a prominent former Conservative such as Grant Shapps also protects Reform’s distinct identity rather than making it a refuge for rejected establishment figures.
The case against
Critics can argue that calling a by-election while the main parties decline to stand risks producing a weak test of public confidence rather than meaningful accountability. They may say that a £5 million gift and assistance from a convicted criminal’s associate raise important transparency questions which should be fully resolved before Farage presents himself as cleared by voters. From this perspective, dismissing Shapps as a ‘Tory reject’ may also appear to prioritise political branding over a serious explanation of Reform’s standards for accepting or excluding potential candidates.