Nigel Farage has condemned his political rivals as “disrespectful” after they announced they would boycott the byelection he triggered by resigning as MP for Clacton. The Reform UK leader called the contest amid a scandal over undeclared gifts, but the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Greens, and Restore Britain all said they would not stand candidates, accusing him of staging a “media circus” and a “vanity project”.
Farage quit his seat on Tuesday, saying he wanted voters, not the establishment or media, to judge him over allegations he failed to declare a £5m gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne and financial support from convicted fraudster George Cottrell. Both gifts are under investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog. Farage denied wrongdoing and claimed the standards system was being used as a “political tool”.
Labour’s ruling executive voted to opt out, with a spokesperson calling Farage “engulfed in a sleaze scandal” and “desperately trying to change the subject”. A senior ally of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the party did not want to be “distracted by a Clacton sideshow” when the new government aims to dominate the summer recess with positive announcements. Another Labour figure suggested letting Farage face novelty candidate Count Binface to expose the process as a farce.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Farage of throwing a “hissy fit” and “cracking under pressure”, adding that a byelection should only happen if the investigation finds him guilty. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for the byelection to be blocked until the standards inquiry concludes. Rupert Lowe of Restore Britain said his party would not participate until after the verdict.
Farage, who won Clacton with a majority of 8,400 in 2024, said the byelection would be “people versus the establishment” and a chance for voters to “stick two fingers up” to the political elite. He pledged to fight to win and continue Reform’s “political revolution”. A byelection could take place as soon as August.
