Polls have opened in Clacton-on-Sea as voters cast their ballots to decide Nigel Farage’s future as an MP.
A record 34 candidates are standing in Thursday’s by-election which was triggered after the Reform UK leader resigned amid scrutiny over his finances.
The Tories, Lib Dems, Greens and Labour all boycotted the vote, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch describing it as “fake” and Sir Keir Starmer calling it “a desperate political stunt”.
Count Binface – a satirical character who has pledged to abolish VAR in football, conscript people who play loud music on public transport and “nationalise Adele” – has emerged as his main rival.
Voters will have until 10pm to cast their ballots, with counting taking place overnight, with the results expected on Friday morning.
It comes as Labour have over taken Reform in a series of polls with Mr Farage's party struggling following a series of scandals, including questions about a £5m donation he received from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne and gifts from a convicted criminal, George Cottrell.
The strange and surprisingly moving story behind Count Binface, the man taking on Farage
In a rare show of unity, the major parties have refused to put forward candidates to fight in Clacton.
Labour and the Tories alike have disdained Nigel Farage’s decision, with Kemi Badenoch describing the by-election as “fake” and former prime minister Keir Starmer calling it “a desperate political stunt”.
And so Farage’s challenger is Count Binface, the intergalactic rubbish basket-wearing alter ego of comedian Jon Harvey, who, over the course of the past decade, has become a strange fixture of British politics, sneaking into the frame of almost every big election.
Read more from Katie Rosseinsky here:
Minister defends banning of zero hour contracts
Our political reporterAthena Stavrou writes:
A minister has defended the government’s decision ban zero hour contracts, in response to criticism that it could cost businesses up to £3 billion a year.
Speaking to Sky News, she said: “We will look very carefully at how we implement the changes that we have put in place through our Employment Rights Act.
“But just to remind people why we did that in the first place, that’s to make sure that when people get into work, that will be work that is fairly paid, where they’ve got security, where they can combine it with the responsibilities that they have in their families.”
She continued: “I don’t think it’s fair for somebody to be on a contract where they literally don’t know whether or not they’re going to be working at all, and yet they’re bound by that contract. So, that’s what we want to bring an end to.”
She added the government will continue to talk to employers about how improvements for workers are implemented.
World Cup and June’s heatwave help UK economy withstand Iran war pressures
Britain’s economic growth slowed in the second quarter but a boost from heatwaves and the World Cup helped offset impacts from the Iran war in a better-than-expected performance in June, official figures have shown.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.4 per cent between April and June, down from 0.6 per cent growth in the first three months of the year.
Its data showed growth of 0.3 per cent month-on-month in June, against expectations for a flat performance, as the ONS said firms across the service sector reported buoyant trade thanks to extreme hot weather and the start of the World Cup football tournament.
The June rise in GDP followed flat growth in May, revised down from 0.1 per cent growth previously estimated, and a 0.1 per cent contraction in April.
Liz McKeown, ONS director of economic statistics, said: “Growth slowed in the second quarter of the year, following a strong start to 2026, but remained relatively robust.”
“Services also drove growth in June, with some businesses reporting that good weather and sporting events may have had a positive impact that month,” she added.
The strange and surprisingly moving story behind Count Binface, the man taking on Farage
When the residents of Clacton come to cast their votes in the newly announced by-election tomorrow, it seems they will have a choice between two main candidates: a man with a habit of spouting (what is, to some) total rubbish and… a sentient bin.
This week, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage set out his plans to resign as the MP for Clacton and stand again for his seat, following a scandal over undeclared gifts, including £5m from the cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne, which is being investigated by the parliamentary standards commissioner.
His intention, he has said, is to be judged by his constituents rather than “the establishment”, arguing that he has done no wrong and that the probe is a “political tool”. His opponents, however, see this move merely as Farage’s latest attention-grabbing feat, a way to shift the focus away from the investigation, which will be suspended during his campaign.
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Investigation into Farage will resume if he wins seat
Before quitting Westminster, Nigel Farage was being investigated by the parliamentary standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg over a £5 million gift from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne, which he received before taking his seat in the Commons.
Under Commons rules, new MPs are required to register any gifts worth more than £300 they received in the previous 12 months, except where the gift “could not be reasonably thought by others” to relate to their political activities.
That investigation was paused when Mr Farage resigned his seat but will resume if he wins the by-election – as bookmakers have made him the firm favourite to do.
Mr Farage could also face an investigation over support provided by George Cottrell, a long-term ally.
Mr Cottrell reportedly recruited and paid three staff to work on Mr Farage’s social media before the general election, and has continued to allow him to use a five-storey Georgian property he rented near Buckingham Palace.
Record number of 34 candidates standing in by-election
The main Westminster parties are boycotting the by-election, dismissing it as a stunt by the Reform UK leader, but a record 34 candidates are standing.
Nigel Farage wanted it to be a “people versus the establishment” showdown but, rather than Labour and Tory rivals, he is facing opponents including satirical candidate Count Binface, actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox, three from the Official Monster Raving Loony Party and an array of independents.
The contest is estimated to have cost taxpayers around £250,000 and the 90cm-long ballot paper has also caused logistical problems for Tendring District Council and returning officer Ian Davidson.
The size of the ballot paper means larger tables than usual will be required at the count and the result will be announced on the floor of Clacton Leisure Centre rather than on a stage due to the number of candidates who would have to fit on it.
Photographers and TV cameras covering the count have been advised by officials they will need a wide-angle lens to fit all the candidates into a single shot.
Polls open in Clacton by-election
Polls have opened in Clacton-on-Sea as voters cast their ballots to decide Nigel Farage’s future as an MP.
Voters will have until 10pm to cast their ballots, with counting taking place overnight, with the results expected on Friday morning.
Countdown to polls opening
We’re now just an hour away from polls opening in one of the strangest modern by-elections as Nigel Farage attempts to retain the Clacton seat.
The Reform UK leader quit as an MP to trigger the contest in protest at media and parliamentary scrutiny of donations from his backers.
The main Westminster parties are boycotting the Clacton by-election, dismissing it as a stunt by the Reform UK leader, but a record 34 candidates are standing.
The contest is estimated to cost taxpayers around £250,000 and the 90cm-long ballot paper has also caused logistical problems for Tendring District Council and returning officer Ian Davidson.
Size of Farage's majority at last election in Clacton
Back in 2024, Nigel Farage won the seat of Clacton with 46.2 per cent of the vote.
It marked a majority of 8,405 over his Conservative rival.
Badenoch vows to put forward ‘serious Tory candidate’ in Clacton
Kemi Badenoch has vowed to put forward a "serious candidate" in Clacton should a parliamentary standards investigation lead to a second by-election in the Essex constituency.
The declaration came last week ahead of Thursday’s by-election.
The Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is seeking re-election and is one of 34 individuals listed on the extensive 3ft-long ballot paper.
In the letter, Ms Badenoch wrote: “Mr Farage wants the people of Clacton to settle his problems for him.
“He wants to point to you and say, ‘even after the £5 million scandal, Clacton still chose me.'”
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