Clacton by-election branded a 'Nigel Farage stunt' as Tory defends decision not to stand a candidate

Nigel Farage's resignation as Clacton MP and the triggering of a by-election has been branded a "stunt" by a Tory frontbencher.

Speaking to GB News, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately defended the decision by the Tories not to stand a candidate, accusing the Reform leader of "dodging questions".

Asked by host Ellie Costello why the Tories are choosing not to stand a candidate, Ms Whately responded: "This feels like a somewhat circular conversation, but the fact is anyone can see this is a stunt by Nigel Farage.

"He doesn't want to answer questions, he's dodging the questions, he just wants to be in the limelight."

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The Tory MP denied that the other political parties are "working together" to "stitch up" Mr Farage.

She told GB News: "He thought he could spend the summer campaigning saying, 'hey, look at me in Clacton', and he's being called out by that.

"It's not the thing of different parties working together as you're suggesting, anybody can see it's just a stunt, trying to get some headlines, trying to distract from the difficult questions he's got to answer."

If a second by-election is called in the Autumn, Ms Whately assured that the Tories would then field a candidate to challenge the Reform leader.

She said: "There could well be a proper by-election, a real by-election in the autumn and then of course we'd be standing a candidate and fighting for it.

"So that's a moment to do it, do it properly, not in this this way, which is just to try and grab the limelight."

Pressed on the investigation facing Mr Farage, host Stephen Dixon questioned how the Reform leader can expect a "fair hearing" when "seven of the MPs in the committee are from different parties to Reform".

Ms Whately responded: "That committee and I'd say it's partly composed of MPs, but there are others on it as well. It's just a matter of setting out the facts.

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"And also, Nigel Farage should answer questions. One thing that's really clear at the moment is he's dodging answering questions.

"He used to do those press conferences when he would make a thing about how many questions he would answer.

"Now instead all he's doing is making a speech very angrily and then just walking away for the microphone. He does not want to answer questions about this. Why not?"

Ms Whately argued that Mr Farage is not taking his job "seriously" if he wishes to one day be the country's Prime Minister.

She told GB News: "Why won't he stand up for scrutiny when he's a man who wants to be Prime Minister?

"You've got to be able to face scrutiny. You've got to be able to answer the public's questions. You've got to allow people to hold you to account.

"But he's dodging that, I'm afraid. These are just not the actions of somebody who's taking the work of being a politician and trying to be Prime Minister seriously."

Speaking to GB News on Wednesday, Mr Farage declared he has been "painted as a war criminal" despite "breaking no laws".

He said: "It seems that the media and political classes want to paint me out to be like a war criminal, as if everything I've ever done is wrong, is bent, is corrupt. I don't get a chance to properly answer it, and I don't see why I should be judged by them."

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