Nigel Farage has announced he is to resign as the MP for Clacton to fight a byelection, revealing he is under a second investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog over undeclared gifts.

The Reform UK leader said it was part of “sticking two fingers up at the establishment” and it would prove that the public wanted him to stay on as an MP.

In a defiant address, Farage claimed the establishment was out to prevent a Reform government and accused the media of a “pile-on” and of harassing his family.

He said he was not quitting for the US or to go back into business, but that he refused to be judged by the media and would resign to fight a byelection.

More details soon …