Multiple reports say Nigel Farage agreed to return to a leadership role in Reform UK ahead of the 2024 general election, prompting criticism from Labour figures. The Guardian reports that Labour’s party chair accuses Reform UK of making “grubby” or “sleaze” pacts after contradictory accounts emerged about when talks began and when Farage said he would return. According to the Sunday Times, Farage was in discussions about resuming a political leadership role from as early as March 2024, even though he had previously indicated he did not plan to return until June 2024. The reports describe the alleged agreement as secret, with Farage framed by Labour critics as having been involved in arrangements months before the election. The items also note disputes over the timeline, with Farage’s own stated timetable not aligning with the earlier start of talks described in the reporting.