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Several major political parties—including Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and Restore Britain—have collectively decided not to contest the upcoming Clacton by-election. This election was triggered by the resignation of Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK. Farage has declared his intention to seek re-election in what he describes as a “people versus the establishment” contest for the Essex seat.
Farage’s resignation comes amid growing scrutiny over his financial affairs and an ongoing parliamentary investigation. He maintains his innocence, stating that the “people of Clacton should be the judge of my actions.” In response, Labour has dismissed the by-election as a “circus,” accusing Farage of attempting to divert attention from serious issues. A Labour spokesperson said, “It’s pathetic, and the Labour Party is not going to indulge it,” while urging Farage to allow the investigation to proceed without interference. Similarly, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch labeled the election a “fake election” intended as a distraction. The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to delay Farage’s resignation until the parliamentary standards inquiry is complete, arguing that constituents deserve full information before voting.
The stance of smaller parties varies. Restore Britain, formed by MP Rupert Lowe after his suspension from Reform, will not field a candidate in the Clacton by-election but indicated it may contest a potential second by-election if one is triggered by the ongoing investigation. Initially, the Green Party deferred the decision to its local members; subsequently, Green MP Hannah Spencer announced that they would not present a candidate. Meanwhile, comedian Jon Harvey, known for running under the moniker Count Binface, has confirmed his participation in the race.
Nigel Farage shared a detailed video statement from his party headquarters in London, asserting that he has “done nothing wrong” concerning his finances and criticizing the media’s treatment of him and his family. He accused the “establishment” of using “foul means” against his party and described the by-election as an opportunity to defy the establishment. Reform UK has indicated a desire for a swift election, which under parliamentary guidelines could occur as early as August. When questioned whether his resignation and re-election bid was a stunt, Farage acknowledged it was “a big gamble.” He also stated that his party would cover the cost of the by-election, an expense normally borne by central government. According to a government estimate from 2016, such elections cost around £228,964, though this number is likely higher now.
Farage secured the Clacton seat with a majority exceeding 8,000 votes in the 2024 general election, outpacing the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, and Greens. Since May, he has been under investigation by Parliament’s standards commissioner, Daniel Greenberg, for failing to declare a £5 million gift from billionaire Reform donor Christopher Harborne prior to becoming an MP. Farage likened the sum to “the equivalent of a lottery win” and explained that the gift was intended to cover his personal security needs, referring to himself as “the most physically and verbally attacked public figure or politician of modern times.”
In a recent report, the Sunday Times revealed that George Cottrell, a close associate of Farage, had provided support ahead of the 2024 election, including funding staff who managed Farage’s security and social media presence. Parliamentary rules require newly elected MPs to declare gifts or benefits related to parliamentary or political activities received within the year before their election, with exceptions made for those considered purely personal. Farage maintains that the support he received falls within this exemption. The standards commissioner’s investigation is currently paused due to Farage’s resignation but could be resumed if he wins the by-election and returns to Parliament.
One possible consequence of the investigation is a suspension from Parliament, which would trigger a recall petition. If 10% of registered voters in the constituency sign the petition, the MP can be removed, precipitating another by-election. Separately, it has come to light that George Cottrell and his mother donated money to entities linked to Reform’s deputy leader, Richard Tice. According to the Telegraph, Cottrell loaned £80,000 to Tice’s company, Tisun Investment, in late 2024, while his mother contributed £1 million to Tice’s think tank, Britain Means Business, in June 2024.
These financial transactions were flagged to the National Crime Agency (NCA) through its Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) program. Tice stated he only became aware of the reports after being contacted by the Guardian newspaper. Reform UK suspects that the details leaked to the press originated from the NCA. In response, Tice has written to the head of the NCA requesting an investigation into the potential breach of confidentiality regarding his financial information. An NCA spokesperson noted that the agency neither confirms nor denies receipt of SARs, underscoring that such reports are confidential and that disclosing their existence may constitute a tipping-off offense under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The SAR program is designed to alert law enforcement to possible money laundering and recorded 866,616 reports in the 2024/25 period
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