Key facts
- The Clacton by-election will take place on August 13.
- Nigel Farage resigned as MP for Clacton and will contest the seat.
- Reform UK offered to pay for the by-election.
- The government plans to reject the offer due to donation rules.
- Other major parties will not field candidates against Farage.
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.
Reform UK offered to cover the cost of the by-election, but a government source indicated the offer would be rejected due to rules on donations, which prohibit transfers tied to specific public spending purposes. This could leave taxpayers facing a bill exceeding £200,000.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the by-election date, describing Farage's resignation as a "farce and a desperate distraction." Other candidates, including serial election candidate Count Binface and actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox, are also expected to stand. Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey noted he had identified a lobbying attempt by Farage regarding stablecoin regulation, but stated no policy changes resulted from it.