The results of the Clacton parliamentary by-election will soon be revealed. The unusual contest for the Commons seat was triggered when Nigel Farage stepped down as an MP in July. He did so in protest at media and parliamentary scrutiny over donations from his backers, vowing to stand in the contest in a bid to win back his seat with support from constituents.
Parties boycott, record candidates stand
The main political parties all decided to boycott the by-election, dismissing it as a stunt by the Reform UK leader. However a record 34 candidates, mainly independents and satirical candidates, are standing in the election.
Mr Farage claimed that the Clacton by-election would be a “people versus the establishment” showdown but, rather than Labour and Tory rivals, he is facing opponents such as Count Binface, actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox and three members of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party.
Voting and count details
The polls opened up at 7am on Thursday and voters in the Essex constituency have until 10pm tonight to cast their ballots. The count will then take place overnight, with the results announced on Friday.
While the count will begin straight away, rather than the following morning, we could be in for a later result than usual from an overnight count. The record number of candidates standing means that the ballot paper is 90cm-long, which could slow down the process.
It is expected that the result will be declared at Clacton Leisure Centre at some point between 5am and 7am on Friday morning. While usually candidates would stand on the stage to hear the results, because of the number involved the winner will instead be declared from the count floor. Photographers and TV cameras covering the count have been advised by officials they will need a wide-angle lens to fit all the candidates into a single shot.
Previous record beaten
The 34 candidates in Clacton beat the previous record of 26 candidates, set at the Haltemprice and Howden by-election in July 2008, which was triggered by Tory Sir David Davis in his own seat and similarly ignored by the main Westminster parties.
The candidates for the Clacton constituency are: Joseph 77 (Independent), Adham Alkhatip (The Forward Party), Count Binface (Count Binface Party), Nick The Incredible Flying Brick (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party), Tony Cane (Independent), Woke Trump Carrzee (Independent), William Stuart James Clouston (Social Democratic Party), Rees Cowne (Independent), Glenn Charles Cummings (Independent), Martin Davies (Freedom Alliance – Real People, Real Alternative!), Andy Erlam (Independent), Nigel Farage (Reform UK), Attieh Fard (Independent), Laurence Fox (The Reclaim Party), Tony Francis (Independent), Robin Green (Independent), Abi Hookway (Independent), Howling Laud Hope (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party), Stephen Richard Ingram (Independent), Amy Morris (Independent), Derrick Norbert Morris (Independent), Michael Noel O’Keeffe (Independent), Martyn OBrien (Independent), Nick Pelas (Independent), Ketankumar Pipaliya (UK VOICE safer and stronger UK), Daniel Pocock (Independent), James Ransley (Consensus Party Candidate), Gerry Smith (Independent), Kai Stephens (British Democrats), John Stevens (Rejoin EU), Baron Von Thunderclap (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party), Pamela Walford (Independent), Marcus White (Everyone is God Party), and Marc Wilkinson (Independent).
