Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Nigel Farage has resigned as the MP for Clacton-on-Sea, only to trigger a by-election in which he intends to stand again.
Why?
In this video, I examine what appears to be an extraordinary political manoeuvre and ask whether it is really about democracy, accountability or something quite different.
I argue that this is an unnecessary election which will cost taxpayers money while doing nothing to change Farage’s status as the sitting MP. Instead, I suggest it is an attempt to appeal directly to voters while an investigation into his previous election campaign continues.
I also look at Farage’s claim that he has become the victim of media persecution. Is that true, or is this an example of what psychologists describe as DARVO — deny, attack and reverse victim and offender? I explain what that means and why I think it matters.
So, will the voters of Clacton accept this strategy or will they conclude that they are being asked to take part in an election that simply never needed to happen?
As always, I’d be interested to hear your thoughts in the comments.
00:00 Why Farage Has Resigned
00:53 A By-Election Nobody Needed
01:47 The Politics of Victimhood
02:40 What Is DARVO?
03:32 Farage’s Anti-Establishment Claim
04:22 The Parliamentary Investigation
05:13 Going Over the Heads of Parliament
06:05 Has Grievance Politics Peaked?
06:52 The Clacton Test
07:26 What Happens Next?
TRANSCRIPT
A transcript for this video is available at: taxresearch.org.uk
IF YOU WANT TO WRITE TO YOUR MP ABOUT ISSUES IN THIS VIDEO
If you want to write a letter to your MP on the issues raised in this blog post, there is a ChatGPT prompt to assist you in doing so, with full instructions, here. taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/06/20/chatgpt-prompt-for-a-letter-to-your-mp
HOW TO SUPPORT US
Please consider donating: ko-fi.com/taxresearch
ABOUT RICHARD MURPHY
Richard Murphy is Emeritus Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University Management School. He is director of Tax Research LLP and the author of the Funding the Future blog. His best-known book is ‘The Joy of Tax’.
This video was edited by Thomas Murphy.
RICHARD MURPHY ON BLUESKY:
https://bsky.app/profile/richardjmurphy.bsky.social
OR
ON MY BLOG: taxresearch.org.uk/Blog
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INTRODUCTION: youtube.com/watch?v=HdHsRPy3060
PLAYLISTS:
The Wealth Series
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobQLeyZYAagFDMjEFTKbhRD
Ecenomics
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgob54Gs-fOL-8OAQ-IpduwB4
Britain
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobwTT4ATvJjsf8OO6S7wD10
Tax
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoaMni_12J6ULp3yUJisUZoY
MMT
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoZ6jvRGSW5YXu8qogE6aClX
Money
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoYnLk1c7syTvoIo8bKYUs5m
Climate Change
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgob4_wsYaVivWd2WumpPLYwJ
USA
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoYYd3dSyU2Oyl3x7bWJOP7H
Labour
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoa-KhzG-fnjDSg1WROL1zMw
The Trump Administration
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobz41-GLimTho27A3flVWQx
#richardmurphy #richardjmurphy #economy #economics #accountancy #accounting #tax #uktax #ukeconomy #greennewdeal #uk #money #economy #politics #government #tax #labour #health #life #NigelFarage #ReformUK #Clacton #ByElection #UKPolitics #PoliticsOfGrievance #PoliticalAnalysis #Parliament #Democracy #CurrentAffairs #PoliticalCommentary #RichardMurphy #FundingTheFuture #UKGovernment #MediaPolitics #PoliticalAccountability #PoliticsOfCare #BritishPolitics #NewsAnalysis #PoliticalReform
Nigel Farage has resigned as the MP for Clacton-on-Sea, only to trigger a by-election in which he intends to stand again.
Why?
In this video, I examine what appears to be an extraordinary political manoeuvre and ask whether it is really about democracy, accountability or something quite different.
I argue that this is an unnecessary election which will cost taxpayers money while doing nothing to change Farage’s status as the sitting MP. Instead, I suggest it is an attempt to appeal directly to voters while an investigation into his previous election campaign continues.
I also look at Farage’s claim that he has become the victim of media persecution. Is that true, or is this an example of what psychologists describe as DARVO — deny, attack and reverse victim and offender? I explain what that means and why I think it matters.
So, will the voters of Clacton accept this strategy or will they conclude that they are being asked to take part in an election that simply never needed to happen?
As always, I’d be interested to hear your thoughts in the comments.
00:00 Why Farage Has Resigned
00:53 A By-Election Nobody Needed
01:47 The Politics of Victimhood
02:40 What Is DARVO?
03:32 Farage’s Anti-Establishment Claim
04:22 The Parliamentary Investigation
05:13 Going Over the Heads of Parliament
06:05 Has Grievance Politics Peaked?
06:52 The Clacton Test
07:26 What Happens Next?
TRANSCRIPT
A transcript for this video is available at: taxresearch.org.uk
IF YOU WANT TO WRITE TO YOUR MP ABOUT ISSUES IN THIS VIDEO
If you want to write a letter to your MP on the issues raised in this blog post, there is a ChatGPT prompt to assist you in doing so, with full instructions, here. taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/06/20/chatgpt-prompt-for-a-letter-to-your-mp
HOW TO SUPPORT US
Please consider donating: ko-fi.com/taxresearch
ABOUT RICHARD MURPHY
Richard Murphy is Emeritus Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University Management School. He is director of Tax Research LLP and the author of the Funding the Future blog. His best-known book is ‘The Joy of Tax’.
This video was edited by Thomas Murphy.
RICHARD MURPHY ON BLUESKY:
https://bsky.app/profile/richardjmurphy.bsky.social
OR
ON MY BLOG: taxresearch.org.uk/Blog
HIT SUBSCRIBE & GET NOTIFICATIONS
Subscribe and get notified of new videos released.
INTRODUCTION: youtube.com/watch?v=HdHsRPy3060
PLAYLISTS:
The Wealth Series
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobQLeyZYAagFDMjEFTKbhRD
Ecenomics
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgob54Gs-fOL-8OAQ-IpduwB4
Britain
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobwTT4ATvJjsf8OO6S7wD10
Tax
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoaMni_12J6ULp3yUJisUZoY
MMT
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoZ6jvRGSW5YXu8qogE6aClX
Money
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoYnLk1c7syTvoIo8bKYUs5m
Climate Change
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgob4_wsYaVivWd2WumpPLYwJ
USA
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoYYd3dSyU2Oyl3x7bWJOP7H
Labour
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoa-KhzG-fnjDSg1WROL1zMw
The Trump Administration
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobz41-GLimTho27A3flVWQx
#richardmurphy #richardjmurphy #economy #economics #accountancy #accounting #tax #uktax #ukeconomy #greennewdeal #uk #money #economy #politics #government #tax #labour #health #life #NigelFarage #ReformUK #Clacton #ByElection #UKPolitics #PoliticsOfGrievance #PoliticalAnalysis #Parliament #Democracy #CurrentAffairs #PoliticalCommentary #RichardMurphy #FundingTheFuture #UKGovernment #MediaPolitics #PoliticalAccountability #PoliticsOfCare #BritishPolitics #NewsAnalysis #PoliticalReform
