Nigel Farage's attempt to turn his resignation as Clacton MP into a 'people versus the establishment' by-election has backfired, as all major political parties have refused to field candidates. Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain have all announced they will not stand, accusing Farage of using the by-election to distract from ongoing investigations into his finances.
Main Parties Boycott Farage's By-Election
Farage resigned on Tuesday, triggering a by-election in his Clacton constituency. He claimed the vote would allow the public to judge his actions amid scrutiny of a £5 million gift from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne and a separate probe into his links to convicted fraudster George Cottrell. However, the main parties have dismissed the move as a stunt.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: 'Nigel Farage is engulfed in a sleaze scandal and he's desperately trying to change the subject. It's pathetic, and the Labour Party is not going to indulge it.' The statement added: 'Farage should let the parliamentary investigation into his finances run its course and face the consequences.'
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said her party would not participate in 'the fake election, which Nigel Farage is causing to distract people from what is happening'. She added: 'We will be standing a candidate in the real by-election, which will follow the standards investigation into Nigel Farage's fishy finances.'
Liberal Democrats and Greens Join Boycott
The Liberal Democrats have urged the government to block Farage's resignation until the standards investigation concludes. Leader Sir Ed Davey told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We shouldn't be playing Mr Farage's game to escape justice.'
Green MP Hannah Spencer confirmed on BBC Newsnight that her party would also not stand a candidate: 'We try to have healthy debates and discussions, and ultimately, we care really deeply about people in Clacton. And our local party have decided, as a whole, all of us, that we won't be standing a candidate in the by-election.'
Restore Britain, led by suspended former Reform MP Rupert Lowe, said it would not stand in this election but would contest a second by-election if triggered by the standards inquiry. Lowe stated: 'We are not going to participate in a Reform-sponsored media circus over the summer months that is designed to puff up Farage's ego and deflect away from wholly fair questions over why he has concealed such vast and irregular financial donations.'
Only Confirmed Challenger: Count Binface
With all major parties boycotting, Farage's only confirmed challenger so far is Count Binface of the Count Binface Party, a perennial candidate known for satirical campaigns.
Investigations into Farage's Finances
Farage is being investigated by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner over a £5 million gift from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne, which he said was needed to fund security following threats. New MPs must register gifts worth more than £300 received in the previous 12 months, unless the gift 'could not be reasonably thought by others' to relate to political activities.
Farage also faces a probe into his support for convicted fraudster George Cottrell, following a Sunday Times investigation. Cottrell reportedly recruited and paid three staff to work on Farage's social media before the general election and allowed him to use a five-storey Georgian property near Buckingham Palace.
Standards Investigation Suspended but Could Resume
Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg's investigation is suspended following Farage's resignation but will resume if he returns to Parliament. If found in breach and suspended for more than 10 sitting days, it could trigger a recall petition and potentially another by-election.
Farage maintains he has done nothing wrong and accused opponents of using sleaze investigations as a 'political tool'. He offered for Reform UK to pay the cost of the by-election, but the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government rejected the idea, stating that election costs must be met from public funds to maintain independence and impartiality.
Suspicious Activity Report Filed with NCA
A report in The Guardian revealed that bankers filed a suspicious activity report (SAR) with the National Crime Agency in May 2024 over concerns the Harborne gift could be laundered money. Farage told the newspaper he was unaware of the SAR and had no reason to doubt the source of the money. Deputy Reform UK leader Richard Tice accused the NCA of leaking information and demanded an inquiry. An NCA spokesperson said: 'The NCA does not confirm or deny the receipt of suspicious activity reports (SARs), nor comment on how any SAR is used. SARs are confidential and breaching that confidentiality risks committing a tipping off offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act.'
