POLL OF THE DAY: Would you still vote for Reform without Nigel Farage as leader? - YOUR VERDICT
Nigel Farage said he is "fully supportive" of Richard Tice's leadership
GETTY
Nigel Farage announced yesterday that he would not be running in July's general election.
Releasing a statement, Farage said: "I have thought long and hard as to whether I should stand in the upcoming general election.
"As honorary president of Reform UK, I am fully supportive of Richard Tice's leadership and urge voters to put their trust in him and Lee Anderson.
"I will do my bit to help in the campaign, but it is not the right time for me to go any further than that."
POLL OF THE DAY: Would you still vote for Reform without Nigel Farage as leader? - YOUR VERDICT
GB News
He instead said he intends to help with the election campaign in the US.
Addressing the significance of Donald Trump's third successive White House bid, the 60-year-old explained: "Important though the general election is, the contest in the United States of America on November 5 has huge global significance.
"A strong America as a close ally is vital for our peace and security. I intend to help with the grassroots in the USA in any way that I can."
Speaking to Tom Harwood on GB News, Tom asked him: "There was a significant part of your note that you wrote this morning that got a lot of people who are big fans of yours riled up a little bit.
Nigel Farage explained his decision on GB News
GB News"That was the suggestion, the implication that the United States of America election matters more to you than the United Kingdom general election?"
Farage said: "The American election doesn't matter more to me. It matters more to us, and matters more to the world. We are closer now than we've been at any point since the Cuban Missile Crisis to a serious global war."
He added: "World War Three matters more to this country than who wins the next election. No question about it. A weak America, we saw Biden withdraw from Kabul.
"We saw the Taliban taking back over, that was followed by Putin invading Ukraine. The Chinese now rattling their sabers over Taiwan. We're in a very bad place. We have to recognise the leader of the Western world is America.
"Whether you like him or not, Donald Trump believes in peace through strength. That is good. That must be good for us.
"So my plan is very simple, it's to campaign up until July 4 and work very hard for Tice and for Reform. By the way, this is a six-year campaign, we've got we have got a six-year plan to become the biggest party in British politics."
He explained: "After that, I'll be in America a lot. Trump, whether you love him or hate him, believes in peace through strength. He must win."
79 per cent of GB News members who voted in the poll said they would still vote for Reform even without Nigel Farage as leader.
Meanwhile 16 per cent said they wouldn't, while five per cent are still undecided.