LONDON (AFP) — British anti-immigrant politician Nigel Farage announced Tuesday he would resign as a member of parliament to run in a snap special election — a high-stakes gamble following intense scrutiny over his finances.

The unusual move comes as Farage, whose Reform UK party leads national opinion polls, faces mounting pressure over the non-disclosure of gifts, including allegedly from a convicted fraudster.

“I’ve decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions,” Farage said in a televised address, referring to the southeast England constituency he has represented for two years.

“This will be a people versus the establishment by-election,” he added, confirming he would be putting his name forward to stand in a special election held to fill a seat that becomes vacant between regular general elections.

Parliament’s anti-graft watchdog has been investigating the hard-right firebrand and long-time anti-European Union campaigner over the non-disclosure of a £5 million ($6.6 million) donation from Thailand-based cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne.

Farage’s resignation means the probe will be suspended until after the by-election.

But Labour and the Conservative parties both said late Tuesday that they would not field candidates in a by-election, UK media reported.

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