Farage rules out standing in general election

Reform UK founder and honorary president Nigel Farage has announced he will not stand in the general election on 4 July.

There was speculation he would be unveiled as a candidate by Reform leader Richard Tice this morning.

But he had previously said he would not make an eighth attempt to become an MP at Westminster under the current first-past-the-post electoral system.

He said this morning he would "do my bit to help in the campaign".

Reform is particularly targeting disillusioned Conservative voters, mainly over the issues of immigration and net zero.

Speaking on GB News after the election was announced, former UKIP leader Mr Farage said: "Richard Tice has got [Reform] up and running, there are 500 candidates selected, he will get more.

"The whole plan for Reform was that it was a six-year plan - fight this election, get ready for when Labour fail, which they will.

"[Sir Keir] Starmer's first cabinet will not have the competence that Blair's first cabinet had by an absolute mile."

In a video message posted on X, Mr Tice said Reform was ready for the election with its "common sense policies".

He added: "People know that the Tories have broken Britain. Labour and Starmer will do what they always do, which is bankrupt Britain."

Mr Farage led Reform UK from 2019 to 2021 when it was known as the Brexit Party.