THE SNP have called Nigel Farage "a dangerous chancer" following his resignation announcement, which will trigger a by-election in his own parliamentary seat.
Farage's resignation comes in protest at the intense scrutiny over unregistered donations of cash and support to him.
The Clacton MP insisted he had done nothing wrong as he accused Westminster opponents of using sleaze investigations as a “political tool” and the media of “haranguing” his family.
Farage is already being investigated by the Commons standards watchdog over an undeclared £5 million gift from Reform donor Christopher Harborne before he entered Parliament and he appeared to confirm he faced another probe over support provided by convicted fraudster George Cottrell.
SNP Westminster Leader, Dave Doogan MP said: “Nigel Farage is a dangerous chancer, and it was only ever a matter of time before one of his many scandals caught up with him. It is ironic that he claims to be a victim of the establishment, when he has in fact been caught out in a classic Westminster scandal.
“Today, Farage openly admitted pocketing millions and millions of pounds from his cronies for delivering Brexit – a Brexit which has made people in Scotland poorer.
“Instead of standing up to him, the Westminster establishment has embraced his Brexit and repeated his toxic rhetoric.
“For Scotland, the only route to a Farage free future is to build beyond broken Britain through the fresh start of independence.”
Farage's resignation will mean parliamentary standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg’s investigation is suspended – but it will be resumed if Farage wins the by-election and comes back to Parliament.
If he is found to have breached the rules and suspended for more than 10 sitting days it could trigger a recall petition – potentially leading to another Clacton by-election.
Doogan added: “Today’s announcement means that Westminster chaos is set to continue this summer in Clacton. Farage is in chaos, the Labour Party in chaos – constant chaos is now the permanent pattern at Westminster. All the while energy bills are rising, unemployment is soaring, and food prices are sky high.
“The Scottish people deserve so much better – we need to escape the constant chaos of Westminster and escape the threat of a Farage future. Scotland needs the fresh start of independence.”
Speaking in response to Farage’s resignation and his intention to stand again in the by-election, Plaid Cymru Westminster Leader Liz Saville Roberts said: “This was a self-pitying monologue from a man who has done more than anyone to stoke division, turn communities against each other and embolden the anonymous trolls who launch vile attacks on social media against elected representatives, especially women.
“Nigel Farage calling this a 'people v the establishment' election is laughable when he is a walking, talking embodiment of the wealthy and privileged establishment figure.
"For decades, he has exerted great influence over British politics while misrepresenting himself as an outsider. This is a man who is funded by billionaires and acts as a mouthpiece for their interests.
“By calling for a by-election, Reform UK’s leader is only pandering to his own ego, and squandering taxpayers' money in the process. Peel away the rhetoric, and today’s attention-seeking exercise is little more than a last-ditch attempt at gaming the system in order to scuttle away from the cold light of impartial scrutiny. This seems to be an act of jumping before being pushed.”
