NIGEL Farage will not stand as an MP at the election – in a huge relief for Rishi Sunak.
The leading Brexiteer decided that now is “not the right time” to push for a Westminster seat.
The Reform Party President made the call after sleeping on the decision overnight following Rishi Sunak’s sudden election announcement.
His decision will be seen as a huge boost for the Tories who were fearful he could take support away from their core vote.
It also aided Boris Johnson’s stonking 80-seat majority in 2019 when he decided not to stand any Brexit Party candidates.
Mr Farage, in a statement, said that he had thought “long and hard” about the decision.
He added: “I will do my bit to help in the campaign but now is not the right time to go further than that.”
He said he totally backed Reform Party leader Richard Tice and Tory defector MP Lee Anderson.
In the short statement, he added that his time would be focused on the “grassroots campaign” in the US aiding his close ally Donald Trump’s bid to return to the White House.
He said the US election in November was of global significance.
