Nigel Farage, the pro-Brexit campaigner and serial disrupter of British politics, on Monday announced plans to run as a candidate in Britain’s general election next month, dealing a new setback to the prospects of the country’s embattled prime minister, Rishi Sunak.
The surprise announcement from Mr. Farage, who represents an insurgent hard right movement, threatens to upend an election campaign by taking votes from Britain’s governing Conservative Party.
Divisive, charismatic and famed for his communication skills, Mr. Farage was one of the architects of Brexit, which a slim majority of Britons supported in a 2016 referendum.
His earlier decision not to run in the election was thought by some analysts to have sapped momentum from Reform U.K., the successor to the Brexit Party he once led.
Mr. Farage last month said that he would not seek a parliamentary seat because he wanted to prioritize supporting Donald J. Trump’s electoral campaign in the U.S. Mr. Farage is a longtime ally of the former president and campaigned for him in 2020.
Persons:
Nigel Farage, Rishi Sunak, Farage, Sunak, Donald J
Organizations:
Monday, Conservative Party, Labour Party, Brexit, Reform, Brexit Party
Locations:
U.S