Farage faces record 34-candidate ballot in Clacton by-election
The Clacton vote follows Nigel Farage’s resignation amid scrutiny over gifts and donations, with major parties sitting out the race.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
Nigel Farage will try to win back his Clacton seat against what local officials describe as a record field for a UK parliamentary election. Tendring District Council, which is running the August 13 by-election, said 34 candidates are on the ballot.
Al Jazeera reported that Farage, the leader of the right-wing Reform UK party, resigned as the constituency’s member of parliament earlier this month after weeks of questions over gifts and donations he had not initially declared under parliamentary rules. His decision forced the by-election and has turned the Essex contest into an unusually crowded race.
The council said the 34-name ballot is believed to be the largest candidate list in any UK parliamentary election. According to Al Jazeera, most contests for Westminster seats usually involve far fewer candidates.
Farage seeks voter backing after donations scrutiny
Al Jazeera reported that scrutiny of Farage intensified after it emerged in June that he had received a gift worth five million pounds, or $6.7m, from a billionaire cryptocurrency investor. Further questions were later raised about other gifts and donations, including allegations that one donor had a fraud conviction.
Farage has denied wrongdoing, according to Al Jazeera. He has said he is running again so voters in Clacton can decide whether he should remain their representative in parliament.
At the Conservative Political Action Conference in London on Friday, Farage framed the race as a test of local support, Al Jazeera reported. “The people of Clacton can decide whether they back me or whether they back the establishment,” he said.
Farage also told the conference he had “taken a punt” because he likes “a gamble,” adding that he hoped voters would return him to Westminster, according to Al Jazeera.
Main parties stay out
Britain’s main political parties are not fielding candidates in the Clacton by-election, Al Jazeera reported. They have described the contest as a “media circus,” leaving the ballot largely to smaller parties, independents and satirical candidates.
Among the most recognizable challengers is comedian Jon Harvey, who is running as Count Binface. Al Jazeera reported that Harvey campaigns in character wearing a metal bin on his head and has previously stood against former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Uxbridge, as well as twice contesting London’s mayoral election.
Alan “Howling Laud” Hope, leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, is also on the ballot, according to Al Jazeera. The party has long used satirical campaigns in British elections.
Al Jazeera also reported that Lawrence Fox, the actor who became a fringe far-right politician and previously ran for London mayor, is standing in Clacton.
Online prediction market Polymarket gives Farage an implied winning probability of about 95 percent, with Count Binface well behind in second place, according to Al Jazeera.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.