Nigel Farage has offered a coy response when he was put on the spot over his political ambitions by Jeremy Vine – with the BBC journalist even naming the seat he believes the ex-Brexit Party leader will contest.
Mr Farage is Reform UK’s honorary president, but has so far offered no confirmation that he plans to return to the fray, having tried – and failed – to be elected to Parliament on seven occasions.
Mr Vine, interviewing the ex-UKIP and Brexit Party leader on his BBC Radio 2 show, immediately asked if he was planning to get back in the ring, prompting the 59-year-old to reply: “Right now Jeremy, like you, I’m just a humble broadcaster.
“I happen to be the honorary president of the party. But I’m watching of course, with great interest.”
Minutes later, Mr Vine broached the subject again, asking: “Which seat are you going to stand in? I’ve heard Clacton.”
Mr Farage replied: “You see, there you go again, I know that I haven’t decided what I’m going to do.”
Referring to Reform UK’s current leader, he added: “All I will say is that Richard Tice has done a great job.
“He’s kept the party going. It’s up above the Lib Dems in the polls. He’s got his first major the faction I’m looking on from the sidelines, albeit I’m cheering, of course I am.
“I haven’t decided yet what I’m going to do, but with or without me, Reform UK is going to be a very significant factor in this election.
“I think once the electors wake up to the fact that Labour are going to win anyway then what is the point of voting Conservative if you feel let down by them?”
Clacton, located on the Essex coast, has been represented by Tory Giles Watling since 2017.
However, if Mr Farage did decide to stand there it would be a logical move. Douglas Carswell became one of only two UKIP MPs ever elected to the House of Commons when he switched from the Tories and forced a by-election in 2014 which he won.
Mr Carswell was subsequently re-elected in the general election of 2015, but stood down before the 2017 poll.
