2026 Clacton by-election

Clacton is a coastal constituency in Essex, in the East of England. It is centred on Clacton-on-Sea and also includes other towns and villages in the Tendring area, including Frinton-on-Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze and Jaywick. According to 2021 census data, its residents are 96% ethnically White, and 44% belong to social grades A, B and C1. The average household income is £33,147, below the average of £42,397 for Great Britain as a whole, and the home-ownership rate is 73%, against 64% nationally. In the 2016 referendum, an estimated 75% of those who voted chose to leave the European Union.^[6]

The constituency is known for being a target seat for right-wing populist parties;^[7] the 2014 Clacton by-election was contested and won by Douglas Carswell, who had resigned as the member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency after defecting from the Conservative Party to the UK Independence Party (UKIP; at the time also led by Nigel Farage). The result made Carswell UKIP's first elected MP.^[8]

Farage's declaration that he was standing down followed reports of parliamentary investigations into his financial interests, his relationships with wealthy people, and other matters.^[9][10][11] Specifically, the investigations involved:

• a payment of £5 million from the British Thailand-based businessman and cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne,^[9]
• possible gifts in kind from George Cottrell, a British financier and political activist who was convicted of felony wire fraud in the United States in 2017,^[12]
• allegations of lobbying the Bank of England regarding cryptocurrency,^[13]
• declaration of several properties.^[13]

Farage’s resignation interrupted the investigation process, though it would resume if he were re-elected.^[14] Were Farage suspended from parliament for more than 10 sitting days or 14 calendar days, it would result in a recall petition. A successful petition would result in a further by-election.^[15] In addition to the parliamentary investigation, on the day of Farage's resignation as an MP it was reported that the £5 million payment from Harborne had also been reported to the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency by bankers under the anti-money laundering Suspicious Activity Report scheme.^[16][17] Other donations to Reform UK and other party leaders have also been flagged under the scheme.^[18]

On 7 July 2026 Farage announced that he would vacate his seat as MP for Clacton and stand again in the resulting by-election. He gave the investigations into him and his treatment by the press as reasons. Farage denied wrongdoing and said that he wanted voters in Clacton, rather than the press or parliamentary authorities, to decide whether he should continue as their MP.^[2][3]

On 8 July Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, accepted his resignation by appointing him to the office of profit post of Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead in order to vacate his seat (as outright resignation from the Commons is not possible).^[19] While objecting to his motives for resigning, she said "if he wants to spend the summer arguing with a bin, I won't stop him".^[20][21] The writ to trigger the by-election was moved on 9 July,^[22][23] and the date of 13 August was selected.^[1]

In the twenty-first century, there have been four instances where an incumbent MP has resigned and immediately stood in the ensuing by-election: David Davis at the 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election,^[24] Douglas Carswell at the 2014 Clacton by-election,^[25] Mark Reckless at the 2014 Rochester and Strood by-election^[26] and Zac Goldsmith at the 2016 Richmond Park by-election.^[27]

Shortly after Farage's announcement, the Labour Party, the Conservative Party, the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats and Restore Britain all stated they would not contest the by-election.^[32] A Labour spokesperson called the situation "pathetic",^[33] while Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe said his party would not participate in "a Reform-sponsored media circus".^[34] Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali initially said (on 7 July) that the Greens stand in "every election",^[35] but the party confirmed later that day that it would not nominate a candidate, describing the by-election as being designed to "serve Nigel Farage's personal political ambitions".^[3]

The Conservatives were reported to be targeting the seat in the next general election, but the party's leader, Kemi Badenoch, said that they would not stand in "Farage's fake by-election".^[34] One of the independent candidates, Attieh Fard,^[28] is a regular Conservative candidate from Surrey Heath who most recently stood for West Surrey Council in May 2026.^[36][37] However, both the Conservatives and Restore Britain said they would stand in any subsequent by-election in Clacton.^[33]

The film journalist David Hughes, who stood as Lord Buckethead for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party at the 2019 general election in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, said many people had asked him to stand as Buckethead in Clacton, but that he had finished with the character.^[38]

• Rob Pownall, an animal rights campaigner from the Protect the Wild organisation, who previously stood in the 2026 Makerfield by-election while dressed as a fox, announced his intention to stand but later withdrew his nomination, describing the by-election as a farce.^[39]
• Piers Corbyn, a political activist and conspiracy theorist, had previously stated that he would stand as an independent candidate,^[40] but did not do so.
• The novelty candidate Mr Fishfinger (born Paul Ellis) had previously stated that he would stand as an independent candidate, but did not do so.^[41]
• Independent candidate Amelia Randall withdrew, saying that she did not want to split the independent vote following the entry of independent candidates Ollie Granger and Luke Worley.^[42]
• Independent candidate Ollie Granger withdrew and stated that he would be supporting Luke Worley.^[42]
• Independent candidate Luke Worley withdrew after stating that most people he had spoken to in Clacton desired a two-horse race.^[42]

Farage denied wrongdoing and described the contest as a "people versus the establishment" by-election.^[3] Reform offered to pay for the costs of the by-election, estimated at around £200,000.^[43] In an interview with the Daily Mail, Farage denied accusations that the by-election was a "farce", calling it a "real election with real people". He expressed surprise at the other parties' decision not to field candidates, which he described as "showing contempt" towards the electorate.^[44]

On 9 July The Guardian reported that Reform UK urged its party activists to shift their focus from the upcoming Greater Manchester mayoral by-election on 30 July to support Farage in Clacton. Reform UK responded to the report by stating: "We are taking both by-elections incredibly seriously. Our campaign plans for the Greater Manchester mayor by-election remain unchanged."^[45]

On 23 July, while Farage was campaigning in Clacton, a woman heckled Farage calling him a "wanker" as she drove past him, but while doing so ended up crashing into the car in front of her while it was waiting at a set of traffic lights. Farage reacted by saying: "She won't be doing that again in a hurry", and described the crash as; "instant karma".^[46]

After the major parties declined to contest the election, the perennial novelty candidate Count Binface became the main contender to Farage in early media coverage, with The Independent reporting that Binface had become the focus of an anti-Farage tactical voting campaign.^[47] Binface described himself as a "unity candidate".^[48] In an interview with BBC Radio 4, Binface conceded that he would "probably not" win the election, but said that his job was "to celebrate and defend the wonders of British democracy".^[49] He said his main appeal would be that he is not Farage.^[50]

Many mainstream politicians reacted to Binface's candidature with a mixture of amusement and approbation.^[51][52] Badenoch, the Leader of the Opposition, said that if the by-election was a "people versus the establishment" contest, Binface might be the people's candidate.^[53] Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, said he could not endorse Binface due to Labour Party rules.^[54] Andy Burnham, who would become Prime Minister the following month, posted a picture of himself shaking hands with Binface at a by-election.^[55] He later said that Binface "[is] carrying the hopes of the nation".^[56] The New Statesman's business editor, Will Dunn, endorsed Binface and called for a united front in support of his candidacy.^[57]

Binface received a surge of support from activists after announcing his candidacy, raising more than £15,000 in donations in a day. He said he hoped to appeal to voters from all sides of the political spectrum and said he could even court the immigrant vote, given he was "the ultimate alien".^[54] The green-energy industrialist Dale Vince, who has previously donated to Labour and the Green Party, offered to fund Binface's campaign.^[58] His campaign gained global media attention.^[59][60]

At Starmer's final session of Prime Minister's Questions, on 15 July 2026, Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the opposition, asked Starmer whether he agreed that the country deserved a televised debate between Farage and Binface. Starmer replied that his advice to everyone was to "put [their] vote in the Bin",^[61][62] which was interpreted by The Daily Telegraph as an endorsement of Binface.^[62]

On 7 July Laurence Fox, the leader of the Reclaim Party who lives in nearby West Mersea, announced he would be standing. Fox stated that he would "provide a voice on the 'right'" while also decrying the major parties for not standing a candidate against Farage saying: "This is meant to be a democracy."^[63][64][65] Fox has also said that Binface "literally is the establishment".^[66]

• Joseph 77, legal name Thomas Faithful Darwood. He stood as 77 Joseph in the 2023 Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election and came last with eight votes.^[67][68]
• Adham Alkhatip for the Forward Party.^[69]
• William Clouston, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, announced on 17 July that he would stand.^[70]
• Amy Morris, independent,^[71] standing in protest of inheritance tax.^[63]
• The Official Monster Raving Loony Party, a satirical party, fielded three candidates; party leader Howling Laud Hope, Nick the Incredible Flying Brick, and Baron Von Thunderclap.^[29][71]
• James Ransley will stand for the self-led Consensus Party.^[72]
• Kai Stephens was selected for the far-right British Democratic Party to contest the seat. He described his opponents as "subpar", including calling Binface a "failed leftist comedian" and Farage a "traitor who works in the interests of Zionism, capitalism, [and] globalism" and claimed he is "the only option on the paper that is serious, patriotic, and most importantly, nationalist".^[73]
• John Stevens, a former Conservative MEP and current deputy leader of Rejoin EU, a pro-reaccessionist party.^[74][75] Stevens previously stood for the Buckinghamshire Campaign for Democracy in Buckingham at the 2010 general election, finishing second behind Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow and ahead of Farage.^[76][77]