Nigel Farage’s by-election in Clacton is set to be boycotted by most major parties, after the Reform UK leader was accused of using the vote as a distraction.
The Reform UK leader announced he was quitting as an MP as questions mounted over his personal finances.
The Labour Party, the Tories, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Restore Britain have all said they will not stand candidates in the by-election, leaving independent candidates and Count Binface to contest it.
Mr Farage was already being investigated by the Commons standards watchdog over an undeclared £5m gift from Reform donor Christopher Harborne before he entered Parliament, and he appeared to confirm he faced another probe over security for him funded by convicted fraudster George Cottrell.
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey called for the government to block Mr Farage’s resignation until the Standards Commissioner finishes investigating him.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: “We will not be standing a candidate in the fake by-election that Farage is causing to distract people from what is happening. We need to let that investigation run its course.”
The Clacton by-election “shouldn’t be happening”, home secretary Yvette Cooper said, as she described it as Mr Farage’s “political tantrum”.
Who is actually standing?
Lawrence Fox
The Reclaim Party was set up by Lawrence Fox in in October 2020 following an appearance on the BBC’s Question Time earlier that year, which the actor said resulted in him being “cancelled from a 21-year acting career”.
According to its website, the party exists to challenge “woke orthodoxy” and promote “freedom of speech”, which it views as being “under grave peril”.
Reclaim has been dubbed the “Ukip for culture” and is strongly associated with the so-called “culture wars”.
Fox announced on X that he intends to stand in the Clacton by-election, saying: “We’re coming because we respect the voters of Clacton and also to elevate the Fight on the Right.”
Rejoin EU
The Rejoin EU Party was also founded in 2020. In May 2021, the party received 100,000 votes in the London Mayoral Election. Richard Moreley is the current leader of the party.
Count Binface
This satirical party is the creation of comedian Jonathan David Harvey.
As Binface, Mr Harvey stood as a candidate in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency at the 2019 general election, against the then-prime minister, Boris Johnson, and again at the 2023 by-election that followed Johnson’s resignation.
He also stood in the London Mayoral elections of 2021 and 2024, and against Rishi Sunak, in his Richmond and Northallerton constituency in 2024 general election.
Now he will be standing against Mr Farage.
He wrote on X: “Labour, Tories, Lib Dems and Greens: I demand you stand down in Clacton. I will be a unity candidate and pledge to build at least one affordable house.
“Nigel Farage says he wants The People versus the Establishment. So be it. Leave him to me.”
Monster Raving Loony Party:
The satirical group known for its nonsensical policies said they would take on Mr Farage.
The group was formed in 1982 by co-founders ‘Screaming Lord Sutch’ and current leader ‘Howling Laud Hope’.
In a post online, the party said: “Our preparations are NOW being made for the #ClactonByElection“.
The party stood in the Makerfield by-election, with a manifesto comprising of pledges such as helping with the cost of living by removing VAT because “it adds no value”, and allowing every UK voter to be prime minister for “15 minutes in their lifetime”.
