Clacton constituents will head to the polls this Thursday in one of the stranger modern by-elections as Nigel Farage attempts to defend his seat.
The Reform UK leader resigned as an MP to force the vote in protest at media and parliamentary scrutiny regarding financial backing from his donors.
While major Westminster parties are boycotting the contest, dismissing it as a stunt by the Reform UK leader, a record 34 candidates are standing.
Mr Farage wanted it to be a “people versus the establishment” showdown, but his opponents now include satirical candidate Count Binface, actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox, three candidates from the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, and an array of independents.
open image in galleryThe contest is expected to cost taxpayers roughly £250,000, with the 90cm-long ballot paper creating logistical hurdles for Tendring District Council and returning officer Ian Davidson.
Because of the sheer size of the ballot paper, larger counting tables than usual will be needed.
The result will be announced on the floor of Clacton Leisure Centre rather than on a stage due to the number of candidates who must fit on it.
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.
open image in galleryThat 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.
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”.
open image in galleryThe 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.
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.
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)
– Marc Wilkinson (Independent)