Overview
- Nigel Farage triggered the Clacton by-election by resigning his Commons seat in July and is standing again in the vote held on Thursday, August 13, 2026.
- Major parties — the Labour Party and the Conservative Party — chose not to field candidates, leaving more than 30 independents and minor figures on the ballot.
- Local polls give Farage a large lead, roughly around 70% support, making him the heavy favorite to win the seat on the first count.
- The candidacy is set against allegations that Farage failed to declare a reported £5 million from Christopher Harborne and benefits tied to George Cottrell, facts now under investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
- If the commissioner finds he breached rules the body can recommend suspension and a fresh by-election, a result that would likely draw the main parties back into the contest and reshape the immediate political fallout for Reform UK.