Voters will go to the polls on Thursday in one of the strangest modern by-elections as Nigel Farage attempts to retain the Clacton seat. The Reform UK leader quit as an MP to trigger the contest in protest at media and parliamentary scrutiny of donations from his backers.
Main parties boycott contest
The main Westminster parties are boycotting the Clacton by-election, dismissing it as a stunt by the Reform UK leader, but a record 34 candidates are standing. Mr Farage wanted it to be a “people versus the establishment” showdown but he is now facing opponents including satirical candidate Count Binface, actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox, three from the Official Monster Raving Loony Party and an array of independents.
The contest is estimated to cost taxpayers around £250,000 and the 90cm-long ballot paper has also caused logistical problems for Tendring District Council and returning officer Ian Davidson. The size of the ballot paper means larger tables than usual will be required at the count and the result will be announced on the floor of Clacton Leisure Centre rather than on a stage due to the number of candidates who would have to fit on it.
Standards investigation pending
Mr Farage was being investigated by the parliamentary standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg over a £5 million gift from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne, which he received before taking his seat in the Commons. Under the Commons’ rules, new MPs are required to register any gifts worth more than £300 they received in the previous 12 months, except where the gift “could not be reasonably thought by others” to relate to their political activities. That investigation was paused when Mr Farage resigned his seat, but will resume if he wins the by-election – as bookmakers have made him the firm favourite to do.
Mr Farage could also face an investigation over support provided by George Cottrell, a long-term ally. Mr Cottrell reportedly recruited and paid three staff to work on Mr Farage’s social media before the general election, and has continued to allow him to use a five-storey Georgian property he rented near Buckingham Palace.
Farage urges people versus establishment
Mr Farage said: “At the beginning of summer we called this by-election to give the people of Clacton the chance to have their say on the endless political attacks on me, my family and those around me. It’s given us the opportunity to knock on tens of thousands of doors, making the affirmative case for what I’ve done for the area, and what Reform will do for Britain.” He said “it’s not just about me, it’s about the people versus the establishment” and the vote “is our chance to send a stunning message to the political class: Britain needs Reform, Britain wants Reform, and Britain demands a general election”.
The main Westminster parties refused to take part in this contest but could stand if the outcome of the standards investigation into Mr Farage results in another by-election. If he is found to have broken the rules and a suspension of more than 10 days is imposed, it could trigger a recall petition and the prospect of Mr Farage losing his seat, forcing a second contest.
Past victory and record candidates
In the 2024 general election, Mr Farage won Clacton with 46.2% of the vote and a majority of 8,405 over his Conservative rival. In a message to the people of Clacton, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has said if there is a by-election triggered as a result of the standards investigation, her party will field a “serious candidate” and “when the real choice comes, the Conservatives will be there and I hope we can earn your support”.
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.
