Nigel Farage has told GB News that he will "be in America a lot" on the lead up to the US election as fans have been left fuming that the "the United States of America election matters more to him than the United Kingdom one."
This comes after the former Ukip leader put out a statement on social media today that said he is "fully supportive of Richard Tice's leadership" but he it is "not the right time" for him to go "any further than that".
Explaining his reasoning for declining to stand as a candidate, Farage said he instead intends to help with the election campaign in the US.
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.
Tom Harwood said his decision has "riled fans up"
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.
Nigel Farage with Donald Trump on the campaign trail in 2016
GETTYHe 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."
In his statement earlier today Farage said: "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 peace and security. I intend to help with the grassroots campaign in the USA in any way that I can.
"The choice between Labour and the Conservatives is uninspiring, and only Reform have the radical agenda that is needed to end decline in this country."
Nigel Farage said that the US election matters more to the world
GB News
Responding to his statement, a Tory spokesperson said: “It doesn’t matter who Reform have standing all it does is make a big Labour majority more likely.
“Keir Starmer wants you to vote for Reform, because he knows it will divide the Conservative vote.
“A vote for Reform means a Labour government with higher taxes, an amnesty for illegal immigration and betrayal on the EU.”