Reform UK has accused Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch of “running scared” after the Conservatives announced they would not contest the upcoming Clacton by-election triggered by Nigel Farage’s resignation as a Member of Parliament.
Reform UK chairman Lee Anderson claimed the Conservatives were avoiding the contest because they feared a heavy defeat, insisting the decision reflected a lack of confidence in the party’s electoral chances.
The row follows Farage’s decision to resign his parliamentary seat and seek re-election, saying he wanted voters to judge him directly amid ongoing scrutiny over allegations relating to undeclared gifts. Farage has denied any wrongdoing.
Badenoch, however, dismissed Farage’s move as a political distraction, arguing that the by-election was an attempt to divert attention from the investigations surrounding him.
She maintained that the Conservatives would not participate in what she described as a political stunt.
