Nigel Farage has claimed that he never wanted to step down as the MP for Clacton and trigger a by-election, but that he was forced to do so by “the political establishment”. Setting out his stall to constituents ahead of the Clacton by-election tomorrow, Farage told The Metro newspaper that the contest was “forced” upon him. Farage said: “I did not want to resign as your MP and have this by-election. Farage was being investigated by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner when he resigned, over whether he should have declared that income. Farage initially offered for Reform to pay for the by-election, but the proposal was quickly rejected over concerns it would undermine the independence of the election.