Nigel Farage will face 33 other candidates in the Clacton by-election on 13 August – a record-breaking field that includes Count Binface, Laurence Fox and three members of the Monster Raving Loony Party – as the Reform UK leader’s attempt to explain the contest has been dismissed by one constituent as “a self pitying diatribe”.
Farage resigned as MP on 7 July after increased scrutiny over his finances and a parliamentary investigation, but is standing again. The by-election was triggered by his resignation, and the list of candidates, published outside Clacton Town Hall, contains 20 independents and a number of joke candidates, with none from the main Westminster parties. Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party all declined to take part.
“Nigel Farage faces 33 opponents including Count Binface in Clacton by-election after resigning amid financial scrutiny.”
Tendring District Council said the 34 candidates are thought to be the highest number to stand in a by-election in modern times, surpassing the previous record of 26 at the Haltemprice and Howden by-election in July 2008.
In a letter handed to voters, Farage set out his reasons for calling the contest, writing: “Since I was elected the Labour government, their friends in the media and the establishment in this country have done everything they can to destroy me, my family, the party, our donors and the millions of people like you who support us.” He claimed they “have vilified us”, “sought to intimidate us” and “made life harder for those around us”. He alleged the media and establishment have “made it increasingly difficult to provide the security my family needs” and that his home and family “have been targeted”. The letter went on to claim that the establishment is “seeking to rewrite the rules of politics itself”, including votes for 16-year-olds, postponing council elections in Essex, and changing donation rules – all allegedly designed to “stop Reform”.
One constituent described the letter as “a self pitying diatribe”. Another said Farage had “gone full conspiracy theory”. The letter made no mention of the undeclared £5 million donation from Thailand-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, which is subject to investigation, or of convicted criminal George Cottrell, a former member of Farage’s inner circle.
Among the 33 other candidates is Count Binface – revealed in a New Statesman article to be the comedian Jon Harvey – alongside the actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox. Farage remains the only candidate from a Westminster party, as the main parties boycott what they call “a fake by-election”. The result on 13 August will determine whether Farage’s gamble pays off or whether the record-breaking field splits the vote in ways that could embarrass the Reform UK leader.