Key facts
- Reform UK activists have been urged to shift focus from the Greater Manchester mayoral byelection to Nigel Farage's contest in Clacton.
- A WhatsApp message shared with party members in north-west England requested assistance for the Clacton byelection.
- The party had previously aimed to win the Greater Manchester mayoralty.
- Nigel Farage announced he would stand again in Clacton, calling it a "people versus the establishment" contest.
- Rivals have criticized the Clacton byelection, with some calling it "fake" or a "vanity project."
- Labour has indicated that Reform UK poses a significant threat in Greater Manchester following recent local election gains.
Reform UK activists have been urged to redirect their efforts from the Greater Manchester mayoral byelection to support Nigel Farage's upcoming contest in Clacton. A WhatsApp message circulated among party members in north-west England requested assistance for the Clacton byelection, located approximately 250 miles away.
The party had initially aimed to secure a significant victory in Greater Manchester, a region where it performed strongly in the May local elections, winning 106 seats. However, Farage's decision to call a snap byelection in his Clacton constituency, following questions about his financial interests, appears to have prompted a strategic shift.
Labour's candidate, Bev Craig, is considered the favorite for the Greater Manchester byelection, scheduled for July 30. The Clacton contest is anticipated to occur a week later, on August 6. A Reform UK councillor noted the party's "desperate" need to support Farage, suggesting a belief that winning the Greater Manchester mayoralty might be unattainable and could fuel claims of a "woman problem" for the party.
Farage announced his intention to stand again in Clacton, framing the election as a "people versus the establishment" battle. However, his strategy has faced criticism, with rivals describing the contest as "fake" and a "vanity project." Currently, only Count Binface and Laurence Fox have announced their candidacies against Farage. Labour has cautioned its activists about the "real" threat posed by Reform UK in Greater Manchester, referencing significant losses in recent local elections.