Major parties boycott Farage-triggered Clacton by-election

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has triggered a parliamentary byelection in Clacton, Essex, after resigning as the constituency's MP. The move, which he announced on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, has been met with a coordinated boycott by Britain's major political parties, leaving the satirical candidate Count Binface as his most prominent opponent.

The Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and Restore Britain have all confirmed they will not field candidates. This has led to accusations from Reform UK officials that the establishment is showing contempt for democracy, while government ministers and opposition figures have dismissed the contest as a costly stunt designed to distract from ongoing scrutiny of Farage's finances.

That scrutiny involves two separate matters currently under examination. Parliament's anti-sleaze watchdog has launched an investigation into a £5 million gift from Reform donor Christopher Harborne made before Farage became an MP. Separately, he faces questions over reports that longstanding ally George Cottrell provided undeclared funding for security and staffing in the year preceding his election. Farage has denied any wrongdoing,...