Nigel Farage had reportedly agreed to return as the leader of the Reform UK party months before the July general election, according to claims published by the Sunday Times. These arrangements, said to have been negotiated in March and April 2024, included a plan for the party to settle over £1 million in outstanding loans to a company owned by then-leader Richard Tice.
Reform UK has stated that Farage was merely keeping his options open and that there was no firm commitment to resume leadership until an announcement in early June. The reports raise further questions regarding a £5 million gift Farage received from a Reform donor in early 2024, which he has maintained was a personal gift not requiring declaration as he was a media commentator at the time.
Farage is currently contesting a by-election in Clacton, having resigned as a Member of Parliament to challenge what he describes as 'the establishment.' Other major parties are not fielding candidates in the Clacton by-election, awaiting the outcome of a Commons standards investigation that could potentially trigger another by-election.
According to the Sunday Times, the terms for Farage's potential return and the replacement of Tice as leader were presented to the party's treasurer, Mehrtash A'Zami, in mid-May 2024. A'Zami reportedly told the newspaper that he was informed of the agreement before the election was called and was instructed to implement it.
Reform UK, however, clarified that Farage was exploring his options and assessing the party's liabilities, including loan repayments, should he return. A party spokesperson noted a "mix-up" in one loan repayment being made to Tice personally instead of his company, but insisted the matter was resolved and that all relevant repayments were declared to the Electoral Commission.