Kemi Badenoch has launched a fresh attack on Nigel Farage after the Reform UK leader triggered a by-election in Clacton-on-Sea with his resignation as MP.
Speaking to GB News, the Conservative Party leader declared the by-election “fake”, confirming she will not be standing any candidates in the ballot.
Sitting down with GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope, Mrs Badenoch said: “He’s the one who called this fake election, and this is a fake by-election.
“I will be standing a candidate in the real by-election, which will come later after this investigation has concluded. And the reason why I think that there will be a by-election is because he’s doing this to stop people finding out what actually happened.”
She accused Mr Farage of “cracking under pressure” amid the scandal around his finances: “Many people were not aware of this fishy £5million, but people were not aware of an investigation.
“I think Nigel Farage is facing intense pressure. He’s cracking under the pressure and this is a hissy fit that he’s thrown.”
Pushing back on the Tory leader, Christopher highlighted that Mr Farage’s anger is also aimed at the threat to his daughter’s safety after being doorstopped by the press.
Mrs Badenoch hit back: “I do understand about the pressures on family, our families feel it the most. The bottom line is that somebody knocked on on her door, I’m sure that would have been frustrating, but it does not justify his ranting at the press, shouting at everybody, threatening people.
Kemi Badenoch has launched a fresh attack on Nigel Farage after resigning as Clacton MP
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GB NEWS / PA
“We have a free press in this country, even Prince Harry has to deal with the free press. We all have to deal with it.”
Mrs Badenoch suggested that Mr Farage should have “explained his £5million gift” instead of resigning as an MP.
She told GB News: “He says that he’s just like everybody else, he’s just the bloke down the pub speaking for the everyday person. He’s getting millions of pounds, he’s using the politics to make money.
“He needs to answer why a convicted criminal is covering his costs, that George Cotterell story, and what he’s done has actually highlighted that. This could have been happening in the background, behind the scenes of the standards investigation.”
Nigel Farage announced he is stepping down as MP for Clacton, triggering a by-election | REFORM UK
Asked why she has chosen to “walk away” from the by-election instead of standing in the Clacton ballot, Mrs Badenoch made clear that she will stand candidates in a “real” by-election, should one occur.
She said: “We will compete when there is a real by election. I’m a conservative, I love competition, I like winning. We won Aberdeen South, we beat Reform there. We got 50 per cent of the vote.
“Do you remember when people were saying stand down in Makerfield and then Farage will stand down for you in Aberdeen South? And I said, I don’t stand down for anybody. We will fight every party, especially Labour, because they’re the ones who are running the country and creating these problems.”
Mrs Badenoch argued: “Nigel Farage wants everything to be about himself. Just yesterday we had a vote against Labour releasing prisoners early. Conservatives forced the vote, where was reform? Not a single Reform MP voted. They don’t turn up to work. Even Rupert Lowe voted.
Mrs Badenoch told GB News she will not be standing a candidate in the ‘fake’ by-election
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GB NEWS
“Why is it that they’re not doing their jobs? And instead all they want to do is complain that there’s a stitch up. If they were doing their jobs, I think people would have more sympathy for them.”
Pressed on whether she is “frightened” of Mr Farage, Mrs Badenoch strongly disagreed.
She hit back: “Why would I be frightened of him? I’m not scared of anybody. He is the one who’s running scared. He stopped having his press conferences once the questions got tough.
“He had a honeymoon period. I didn’t get a honeymoon period. As Leader of the Opposition, I’ve had to fight every single step of the way, and I didn’t run away from questions.”