Taking to his Substack blog, he declared: "This needs to be said: Nigel Farage does not want to be Prime Minister. He has never wanted to be a Prime Minister. And given his current difficulties, it is an increasingly unlikely prospect in any case.

"I say this because nothing he's ever said or done suggests he is remotely serious about taking on the terrifying responsibilities which come with occupying Number Ten." The convicted broadcaster went on to warn him that his attempt to shut down the parliamentary investigations would not work.

He explained: "Farage has tried to pre-empt the predictable criticisms: Reform has even offered to pay the costs of the by-election — a risk-free offer as such a funding arrangement would probably not be allowed — and he is betting that if he wins, all the noise about his finances and acquaintances will die down.

"It will not. If he is re-elected, the parliamentary inquiry into his £5m ‘gift’ from a cryptocurrency billionaire will resume. The interest in the kind of company he chooses to keep will not fade."

The former BBC presenter launched his blog last month, just two years after he was convicted of downloading child pornography. In 2024, Edwards admitted to accessing 41 images of children, including seven of the most serious type, and was given a six-month sentence, suspended for two years.

The launch of his blog, which offers "commentary and analysis" on issues such as current affairs and mental health, was soon criticised by child sexual abuse campaigners for his "inappropriate and disrespectful" career move.

Responding to the criticism, Edwards said "those exercised by the piece might have missed the intent expressed" on the blog. Emma Jane Taylor, a campaigner and founder of grassroots charity Project 90-10, said: "To think he can simply return to a public platform and be received as though nothing has happened shows a staggering lack of awareness."

The former TV presenter, who was placed on the sex offenders' register for seven years, told the BBC he had expressed "sincere regret and remorse" in court, and in a public statement issued in March 2024. However, the shamed TV star is yet to return the £200,000, the salary he was paid by the BBC between his arrest in November 2023 and his resignation six months later.