Nigel Farage has told the BBC his resignation as Clacton MP and decision to stand again in a by-election is not a publicity stunt, as his opponents say they will boycott the contest.
The Reform UK leader resigned on Tuesday after facing increasing scrutiny over his finances and a parliamentary investigation.
In his first interview since resigning, Farage said: “The media are judging me to be a dishonest person, so it is only fair to say to the voters, ‘you judge’.”
Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party have all declined to take part in the contest for the Essex seat.
Reform says it is proposing holding the by-election on 6 August.
Farage has been under intensifying pressure over his financial support, which has prompted opposition parties to call for Parliament’s standards watchdog to investigate, and renewed media coverage of his financial affairs.
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper accused Farage of a “political stunt” saying he wants to “duck and dive around the rules”, while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has branded the move a “gimmick”.
The Reform leader, who has denied any wrongdoing, accused the parties of being “scared” to face him and said their lack of co-operation did not make it a “fake” contest.
“They call it a stunt. It’s not a stunt, because real voters will have a vote for an MP,” he said.