Overview
- Nigel Farage resigned his Clacton seat and is contesting the by-election scheduled for 13 August in an effort to have voters judge ongoing questions about donations to him.
- Polling by Survation for Mandate Research shows Farage well ahead with about 73 percent support and satirical challenger Count Binface polling near 20 percent.
- All major Westminster parties including Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats declined to stand, leaving a crowded field of 34 candidates that includes novelty entrants and independents.
- Tendring officials say the long candidate list has produced a near‑metre ballot paper that has complicated printing, posting and polling-station arrangements.
- If Farage is returned the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards would likely resume an inquiry into a reported £5 million gift, and a Commons suspension of more than ten sitting days would open a recall petition that could force a second contest with the Conservatives pledging to run a ‘serious’ candidate if that happens.