Key facts
- A by-election in Clacton will be held on August 13.
- Nigel Farage resigned as the Member of Parliament for Clacton.
- Farage, leader of the Reform UK Party, will re-contest the seat.
- The by-election follows scrutiny of Farage's personal finances.
- Major political parties have stated they will not contest the by-election.
A by-election for the UK parliamentary constituency of Clacton has been formally triggered and is scheduled to take place on August 13. The election follows the resignation of Nigel Farage, leader of the populist Reform UK Party, who announced his decision to step down earlier this week. Farage stated he wanted voters to judge his actions, citing what he described as a liberal "establishment" seeking to discredit him. He is expected to be the sole mainstream candidate, as other parties have indicated they will not contest the seat, characterizing it as a stunt.
The by-election comes amid parliamentary scrutiny of Farage's finances, including a £5 million gift from cryptocurrency investor and Reform donor Christopher Harborne. Parliament's standards commissioner is investigating whether this sum should have been declared upon his entry into Parliament. Farage has denied any wrongdoing and accused other parties of being "scared" to face him.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to refuse Farage's resignation until the investigation concluded, stating that the people of Clacton deserve facts first. Reeves described the by-election as a "farce and a desperate distraction" but indicated she would not prevent it. Other candidates, including actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox and serial election candidate Count Binface, have also announced their intention to stand. Reform UK has offered to cover the by-election costs, though the government has stated that election costs must be met from public funds.