Nigel Farage has said he will stand as a candidate in next month’s election and will lead the Reform Party.
The decision by Mr Farage, now a TV host and previously honorary president of Reform, will boost his movement’s profile and challenge UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s governing Conservatives for the support of right-leaning voters.
Mr Farage, 60, had previously said he would not stand in the 4 July vote in order to help his friend Donald Trump fight the US election later this year.
“I’ve decided I’ve changed my mind,” Mr Farage told a news conference.
“It’s not always a sign of weakness, it could potentially be a sign of strength.”
Mr Farage has stood unsuccessfully for parliament seven times, but is still one of the most influential British politicians of his generation, putting pressure on a succession of prime ministers to take tougher positions on Europe and immigration.
At the last general election in 2019, Mr Farage’s party decided not to contest seats held by the Conservatives, then led by Boris Johnson, to avoid splitting the pro-Brexit vote.
Polls suggest the opposition Labour Party is on course for victory this time, with the Conservatives staring at one of the worst results in their history.
Support for Reform runs at about 10% nationally, giving the party the third highest vote share, polls show.
But under Britain’s winner-takes-all system, the party had not been expected win any seats.
Under pressure, Mr Sunak has already tried to win over voters tempted by Reform with policies such as tax cuts for pensioners and the reintroduction of national service.
Asked if he was worried about Mr Farage entering the contest, Mr Sunak said a vote for Reform would help the opposition Labour Party win the election.
