The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg has reopened the probe into Nigel Farage’s donations after his victory in the Clacton by-election. The investigation was paused during the campaign, but the web page has been updated following Farage’s victory. Farage told GB News:
“This is an overwhelming endorsement of me. I have had enough of being judged by mainstream media, being called a criminal. Do you know if I’ve made one sin? I haven’t filled in a piece of paper.
“I’ve broken no law. I’ve broken no tax law. I’ve taken no public money. I don’t even own a motorhome. All right. And, you know, maybe I haven’t filled in a piece of paper. I’m confident I’m right. We’ll see where we go.”
Party Chairman Lee Anderson said this morning there is not “much point” in a second by-election. MPs will be desperate to force it anyway…
Reform is vowing to call in the Navy:
“Under a Reform UK Government, the Armed Forces would be deployed to intercept unauthorised vessels crossing the English Channel, transfer the illegal migrants onto Royal Navy vessels (treating them medically if necessary), and escort those on board safely back to France or Belgium.
The plan would establish a joint military command involving the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, RAF and British Army, supported by creating an Integrated Surveillance Command using drones, aircraft, helicopters, space satellites and infrared technology to track crossings.”
At least the insurance claim will be straightforward…
“It’s not been easy at times…”
At DPMQs LibDem Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper asked Lammy:
“Will the DPM join us in urging the Chancellor to delay the honorable member for Clacton’s resignation until the investigation is complete? So the good people of Clacton have all the facts before they cast their votes. And failing that, will he support our Clacton clause so that even once the honourable member ceases to be an MP, the investigations can continue?”
Lammy did not say a by-election would be delayed:
“He’s got serious questions to answer and he can’t run away from them. Labour isn’t going to be part of this circus. I hear it’s the people versus the establishment. The city trader Putin-admiring professional politician whose pals with crypto billionaires versus Count Binface. There have been there have been unqualified joke candidates in the past. Let’s see what the people of Clacton decide.”
The parliamentary commissioner for standards may not come back for over a year. Another LibDem fail on the way…
Zia Yusuf has claimed that the boycott of a Clacton by-election by Labour, Tories, Greens, and LibDems is only because they know they would lose to Farage. He told BBC Breakfast:
“The legitimacy of those elections is not determined by which parties coordinate together to not stand candidates. It is very much down to the people of Clacton to make a determination. And I’m confident that they will return Nigel Farage to the House of Commons.
Why have Labour and the Tories decided not to stand? And the second question would be if they thought for a moment they had a chance of unseating the man who has been a thorn in their side for decades, the man whose political party has led 350 national opinion polls in a row. If they had a chance, if they thought they had a chance of unseating Nigel Farage, they would field a candidate. And this is what’s so extraordinary about this endless witch hunt.”
As it currently stands Nigel Farage will be versus ironic candidate Count Binface. Reform wants the writ moved today. Will Reeves grant the by-election in good time by appointing Farage out of the Commons?
Lee Anderson, speaking to The Sun’s Tom Scotson, reveals the wokest thing he’s ever done: “I once had a vegetarian thought, about becoming a vegetarian. That was quickly dismissed when I had a bacon sandwich…”