Satirical candidate Count Binface appears to be Nigel Farage’s main electoral rival in the Clacton by-election as Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and Restore Britain will not stand candidates.
Political opponents accused the Reform UK leader of using a distraction technique as he faces questions over donations.
The by-election “shouldn’t be happening”, home secretary Yvette Cooper said, as she described it as Mr Farage’s “political tantrum”.
Insisting he had done nothing wrong, the Reform UK leader resigned on Tuesday and said he would be fighting the by-election to give voters a chance to “stick two fingers up to the establishment”.
A spokesperson for would-be PM Andy Burnham called the election a “a gimmick designed to distract from serious allegations about Farage’s funders.”
It has been reported that convicted criminal George Cottrell provided Mr Farage with funding for security and staffing before he was elected.
Mr Farage was already being investigated by the standards commissioner over a £5m gift he received from crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne.
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Read MorePolling guru warns Farage ‘can’t pull out’ after major parties boycott Clacton by-election
Farage’s resign and restand by-election plan branded ‘desperate political stunt’
The people of Clacton deserve better than this Nigel Farage circus
Farage by-election bid risks backfiring as main parties will not contest vote
Key Points
- Who is Count Binface?
- Cooper: By-election is Farage's 'political tantrum'
- Clacton by-election is not embarrassing for Reform, insists Zia Yusuf
- Analysis: By-election gamble is Farage's last-ditch bid to save dream of being PM
Analysis: Farage’s by-election stunt could see him consigned to the dustbin of history
11:45 , David MaddoxPolitical editor David Maddox says Nigel Farage has failed to learn lessons from history – and it could result in career-ending embarrassment for the Reform UK leader.
Farage’s by-election stunt could see him consigned to the dustbin of history
Lammy to stand in at PMQs
11:39 , Dan HaygarthAttention will soon turn to Prime Minister’s Questions, where David Lammy will stand in for the outgoing Sir Keir Starmer, who is in Turkey for a Nato summit.
We will bring you all the news from the Commons from midday.
Farage is 'looking after his own family' says Clacton-on-Sea resident
11:35 , Dan HaygarthPolling guru warns Farage ‘can’t pull out’ after major parties boycott Clacton by-election
11:24 , Dan HaygarthIt’s too late for the Clacton by-election triggered by Nigel Farage to be cancelled – even though all of the main parties are boycotting it, according to a veteran elections expert.
The Reform UK leader is likely to win by a huge majority, Sir John Curtice predicted.
The Labour Party, the Tories, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Restore Britain have all said they are boycotting the by-election, leaving independent candidates, smaller parties and and Count Binface to contest it.
Read more:
Polling guru warns Farage ‘can’t pull out’ as major parties boycott by-election
Reform UK mayoral candidate claims Farage was not 'politically active' as party chairman
11:05 , Dan HaygarthMartin Lewis will not be standing
11:02 , Dan HaygarthMoney Saving Expert’s Martin Lewis said people have suggested him as a unity candidate to run against Nigel Farage in Clacton but he will not be doing so.
The financial journalist said on X on Tuesday that his political independence is important to him and has no desire to become involved in party politics.
No, I won't be standing in Clacton!
— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) July 7, 2026
A few people have suggested me as a unity candidate in the by-election today (including the News Agents pod apparently).
It's flattering, thank you, but I'd rather have month-long un-anesthetised root canal work than get engaged in party… pic.twitter.com/0557yL9PBz
Farage had no choice but to resign, says Clacton resident
10:55 , Harriette Boucher in Clacton
Reform supporter Len Brown, 79, believes Nigel Farage made the right move by resigning and calling a by-election.
“That’s the only thing he can do, really, because no one takes any notice of him at parliament, so he could only do that.”
The Clacton resident said there was “no issue” with his donations, and he wasn’t bothered by a possible second by-election soon after, which will be triggered if the investigation by parliament’s standards commissioner concludes with a suspension of more than 10 days for Mr Farage.
“What party doesn’t do anything like that, anyway? They've all got their fingers in the pies,” he said.
Mr Brown said he had seen the Reform UK leader in Clacton and at the pub a couple of times and described him as “a nice young fella.”
He believes Mr Farage made a difference while he was MP, saying: “He's done a lot for people, with animals and farms. He’s donated his own money.”
Full story: Who is actually standing in Clacton by-election?
10:50 , Dan Haygarth
Farage vs Binface: Who is actually standing in Clacton by-election?
‘Nigel Farage doesn’t care about Clacton, but he still has my support’
10:43 , Harriette Boucher, in Clacton.jpeg)
The Reform UK leader has Clacton resident Mel Campbell’s full support.
Mr Campbell, 78, also believes Nigel Farage only ran in the seaside town as a way to get to Westminster.
“He really doesn't care about Clacton…He'd never heard of Clacton until it appeared as an opportunity,” he told The Independent.
The semi-retired Clacton resident said Mr Farage’s resignation and calling of a by-election was a “pretty smart move”, adding that he wasn’t affected by the cost to the taxpayer.
Asked about Mr Farage’s undeclared donations, Mr Campbell said: “It happens all the time in politics. That's exactly why people are in politics.
“Every politician is pretty much corrupt. It's what you expect.”
He said Mr Farage was “probably no more [corrupt] than any other politician,” adding: “There's always something going on somewhere.”
He said he has never seen Mr Farage in Clacton, and doesn't think much has changed for the town since he was elected.
But Mr Campbell is extremely supportive of the Reform leader’s anti-immigration policies, which makes him the preferred choice.
While he and his wife didn’t vote in 2024 because their votes would have cancelled each other out, he said Mr Farage will have his support in any by-election.
Ed Davey calls on chancellor to stop 'Farage's cynical ploy'
10:35 , Daniel HaygarthThe Chancellor has the power to stop Farage's cynical ploy. I've written to her this morning urging her to act.
— Ed Davey (@EdwardJDavey) July 8, 2026
Farage should not be allowed to resign until the investigation into his dodgy dealings has concluded. The people of Clacton deserve the facts first. pic.twitter.com/1QCuGWcIw4
The real reason Nigel Farage fired himself
10:29 , Dan HaygarthNigel Farage's 'quit-and-reapply' stunt was intended to prove himself as the anti-establishment underdog, but all he’s really done is highlight the holes in his own illusion, say ex-Whitehall insiders Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson.
The real reason Nigel Farage fired himself
Who is Count Binface?
09:59 , Dan Haygarth
Count Binface is preparing for his second by-election of the year, fresh from winning 95 votes in Makerfield as Any Burnham returned to parliament last month.
The novelty candidate, who represents the Count Binface party, is described as an "independent space warrior" and wears a bin on his head as a helmet.
His real name is Jonathan David Harvey and he first appeared as Lord Buckethead in the 2017 general election, when he took on Theresa May in her Maidenhead set, but had to rebrand due to a rights dispute.
He returned as Binface in 2019, standing against Boris Johnson in Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
He also stood in two London mayoral elections, gaining more than 24,000 votes each time, as well as a by-election in Uxbridge in 2023 and the general election in Rishi Sunak’s Richmond and Northallerton seat in 2024.
In his manifesto for Makerfield, the count promised that Flake ice creams would be priced at 99p, that he would deliver working trains (and working train wi-fi), as well as reinstating Ceefax in Greater Manchester.
Appearing on Radio Four on Wednesday morning, he conceded he will probably not win in Clacton.
He said: “My job is to celebrate and defend the wonders of British democracy.
“And look at this, eh? The fact that you are interviewing me on the Today Programme, because all the other parties aren’t standing, says more about them than it does about me.
“Are they running scared from old Binny, or do they think that Nigel’s running a cunning stunt? And I pronounced that carefully at 8.55 in the morning.”
Count Binface says he probably won't win but is defending British democracy
09:42 , Dan HaygarthCount Binface, the joke candidate who plans to run in a by-election against Nigel Farage, has conceded he will probably not win in Clacton.
Asked by BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme if he thought he could win the by-election, Count Binface said: “Probably not, but then you know my job is to celebrate and defend the wonders of British democracy.
“And look at this, eh? The fact that you are interviewing me on the Today Programme, because all the other parties aren’t standing, says more about them than it does about me.
“Are they running scared from old Binny, or do they think that Nigel’s running a cunning stunt? And I pronounced that carefully at 8.55 in the morning.”
Betting odds slashed on Count Binface to beat Farage in Clacton by-election
09:32 , David MaddoxBookmakers have slashed the odds of a regular joke candidate at by-elections to beat Nigel Farage in Clacton after all major parties refused to stand in what they have dubbed a “fake” election.
Count Binface is now being quoted as the second favourite at 9/2 by William Hill, as money went on him to pull off a shock victory as the anti-Farage candidate in the by-election called by the Reform UK leader.
Mr Farage dramatically announced that he would step down from parliament and call a by-election in his Clacton seat which he would contend after claiming he was the victim of “an establishment stitch-up”.
Read more:
Betting odds slashed on Count Binface to beat Farage in Clacton by-election
Yusuf says Farage not attempting to evade questions
09:11 , Dan HaygarthZia Yusuf insisted Nigel Farage was not attempting to evade questions by calling a by-election amid scrutiny over his finances.
BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme put to Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson that his boss Mr Farage had not given evidence to a parliamentary standards investigation about a £5 million gift he had received from a wealthy backer, nor had answered questions about support he had received from long-time ally George Cottrell since that story broke.
Mr Yusuf told the broadcaster: “Nigel will answer those questions, that is clear. He’s already said that he will.
“The reason that he has made the decision that he has is because the most serious sanction that parliamentary standards can impose is, of course, a suspension long enough such that a parliamentary by-election would be called if there was a recall petition.
“So what he has done is say: ‘Let’s go directly to that ultimate source of truth.’
“I know a lot of people in the establishment are uncomfortable with that, because for somebody to do what Nigel has done, whether you like him or not, it takes courage, and that’s obviously a word that can’t be associated with almost anybody in politics these days, sadly.”
Watch: Starmer hits out at Farage over 'desperate stunt' of Clacton by-election
08:56 , Dan HaygarthOpinion: The people of Clacton deserve better than this Nigel Farage circus
08:45 , Dan HaygarthTriggering a by-election is the act of desperate man who knows he’s in trouble – but at least the Essex constituents will get to see more of their MP, says David Aaronovitch.
The people of Clacton deserve better than this Nigel Farage circus
Count Binface? Laurence Fox? Who could Farage contest by-election with?
08:43 , Dan HaygarthNigel Farage said he has given voters a chance to “stick two fingers up to the establishment” by resigning as an MP and calling a by-election in Clacton, in which he will stand.
However, Mr Farage, who faces close scrutiny over gifts and support he has received, will not take on any of the established political parties as he looks to retain the seat he won at the 2024 general election.
Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain have all said they will not stand candidates in the poll, with home secretary Yvette Cooper describing it as Mr Farage’s “political tantrum”.
Though Mr Farage dubbed the vote as the “people versus the establishment”, satirical candidate Count Binface appears to be the Reform UK leader’s main electoral rival so far.
The comedian, who is described as an "independent space warrior" and wears a bin on his head, has contested a number of elections, most recently the by-election in Makerfield, where he received 95 votes.
On X on Tuesday, the count wrote: “Any Clacton residents who want to nominate your friendly neighbourhood intergalactic space warrior, ping me a line!”
The Rejoin EU Party also announced it will stand a candidate in the constituency, which voted 72 per cent in favour of leaving the European Union a decade ago.
Perennial by-election participators the Monster Raving Looney Party will also stand, as well as actor-turned-campaigner Laurence Fox, who leads the Reclaim Party.
The controversial former Lewis star described Clacton as his “back yard” as he announced his intention to take on Mr Farage.
How much Farage’s Clacton by-election could cost the taxpayer revealed as Reform leader quits as MP
08:29 , Dan Haygarth
How much Farage’s Clacton by-election could cost the taxpayer as Reform leader quits
Burnham warned of ‘unsustainable’ debt and government spending in latest OBR report
08:18 , Dan HaygarthThe UK needs to take action to stop debt moving onto an “unsustainable and ever-rising path”, Andy Burnham has been warned.
The warning comes from The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) as they predicted that long-term population changes and economic trends will help put pressure on government spending during Burnham’s time as PM.
The OBR set out the findings from a series of projections in the latest annual fiscal risks and sustainability report.
“In nearly all of the scenarios we explore, debt eventually moves onto an unsustainable and ever-rising path,” it said in the report.
“We stress that it is not plausible that the UK, or any other country, could remain on any of the unsustainable paths set out in these scenarios, because they imply that debt will ultimately grow explosively.”
Read more:
Burnham warned of ‘unsustainable’ debt and government spending in latest OBR report
Zia Yusuf accuses other parties of 'trying to make a mockery of democracy'
08:10 , Millie CookeZia Yusuf has accused the other major parties of "trying to make a mockery of democracy" after they announced they would not be standing candidates in the upcoming Clacton by-election, saying there has been "extraordinary levels of coordination" between them.
He told the BBC: "Isn't it incredible how quickly all of these parties that fight and bicker on the BBC and other channels every single day can coalesce and come together to make a fast decision to not stand candidates?
“It just shows what can happen, I suppose, when politicians really want to do it."
The Reform home affairs spokesperson added: "Unfortunately, of course, what they're doing, just as they did for the last two years of local elections, is try to make a mockery of democracy itself, because for many politicians - particularly the ones from the Tory-Labour-uni-party, as we call it - they consider it their birthright to have a stranglehold over British politics, and that is why Nigel Farage is so threatening to that."
Yusuf accuses the National Crime Agency of illegally leaking private and confidential information
08:05 , Millie CookeZia Yusuf accused the National Crime Agency of illegally leaking “private and confidential information to the media” after The Guardian reported that a £5m gift to Nigel Farage by a cryptocurrency billionaire was reported to the law enforcement body amid concerns it may have been laundered money.
He told the BBC: "It would appear that law enforcement have leaked illegally private and confidential information to the media.
“It is a frankly terrifying story about how unelected bodies who are acting autonomously would seem completely unaccountable.”
Mr Yusuf said he thinks there is a "case to answer for the NCA that they have indeed broken the law in order to try to stop an insurgent political party from from upsetting the cozy establishment” .
Dan Jarvis: 'Good luck to Count Binface'
07:56 , Dan Haygarth
Nigel Farage has triggered a by-election because he “senses that he is in real trouble”, defence secretary Dan Jarvis said.
Mr Jarvis, who is currently at the Nato summit in Turkey, said in a statement: “This is clearly a stunt from Nigel trying to get in front of the concerns that have been expressed about him accepting £5 million.
“We’ll see what the standards commissioner rules. My sense is he understands the strength of feeling, which I’ve actually interestingly felt bottom up in my constituency. I think he senses that he is in real trouble and has taken action to try and get in front of that.
“I don’t think that has played out particularly well for him. I don’t think it’s been well-received. I’ve had some quite interesting feedback from my constituents that this is just a complete circus and a complete waste of time.”
Satirical candidate Count Binface appears to be Mr Farage’s main electoral rival so far, as the main parties have decided not to stand candidates.
Mr Jarvis continued: “Looks like Count Binface will be sort of stepping forward, and good luck to him.
“But I think also you make a really serious point that for a party that is doing pretty well in the polls, who aspire to the party of government, it is pretty perplexing, to say the least, that they don’t appear to have a defence spokesperson, and in fact their attendance at defence statements and moments in the House of Commons has been woeful.
“I think that is not acceptable or appropriate for a party that aspires to serve in government, and I think the public will see that.”
Clacton by-election is not embarrassing for Reform, insists Zia Yusuf
07:49 , Millie CookeZia Yusuf insisted that the by-election - which could see Nigel Farage standing against only Count Binface - is "embarrassing for the political establishment" rather than Reform UK.
Reform's home affairs spokesperson told BBC Breakfast: "It is embarrassing once again for the political establishment.
“Remember, Labour and the Tories have coordinated together now many times over the last couple of years ... they worked really hard to deny millions of people in England their right to vote in local elections in 2025, they worked really hard to do the same thing in 2026 and would have succeeded had Nigel Farage not had the courage and the gumption to actually go to a judicial review.
"And then in the end they had to go back with their tails between their legs, and they lost thousands of councillors between them as a result.
"And so I would say this: it is indeed the people versus the establishment, Nigel Farage versus the establishment, and the veracity of a set of elections, legitimacy of those elections is not determined by which parties coordinate together to not stand candidates.
"It is very much down to the people of Clacton to make a determination, and I'm confident that they will return Nigel Farage to the House of Commons."
Editorial: Nigel Farage has finally shown his hand in a desperate bid to dodge scrutiny
07:32 , Dan HaygarthNigel Farage, just back from America where he attended Donald Trump’s underwhelming celebrations of the US’s 250th anniversary of independence, is clearly following the president’s playbook. When asked awkward questions, you deflect, divert, distract and cry foul.
The Reform UK leader’s announcement that he will resign as an MP and force a by-election in his Clacton constituency, in which he will stand as a candidate, is a diversionary tactic in response to legitimate questions about his finances.
It is a stunt that shows he still knows how to attract attention. He did his best to present himself as a martyr, paying the price for his courageous stand against the establishment. And he is quite right that no one should have to put up with death threats, or threats of physical violence – which include having milkshake thrown over him. It is an appalling indictment of our society that people who seek to take part in democratic service should feel threatened in this way.
But to put the people of Clacton through an unnecessary by-election in order to deflect attention is self-serving and weak.
Read in full on the link below.
Nigel Farage has finally shown his hand in a desperate bid to dodge scrutiny
Cooper: By-election is Farage's 'political tantrum'
07:18 , Dan Haygarth
The Clacton by-election triggered by Nigel Farage “shouldn’t be happening”, Yvette Cooper said, as she described it as the Reform UK leader’s “political tantrum”.
Asked why Labour was not standing a candidate in the contest, the foreign secretary told BBC Breakfast: “Well, look, the by-election shouldn’t be happening, it’s Nigel Farage who has chosen, I think, frankly, to disrespect the people of Clacton by just doing this.
“This is a stunt that is all about his own interest. It’s not about the people of Clacton. It’s not about the country. He was elected in a general election.
“He is only doing this because he wants to somehow distract from what is simply the proper application of the rules and I don’t think that is fair on the people of Clacton. But that is the responsibility of Nigel Farage and not anybody else.”
Ms Cooper, who is at the Nato leaders’ summit in Turkey, said her focus remained on problems around the “increasingly dangerous world”.
She added: “All of those things are really important for our national security, and yet we’ve got one man who wants to just have a discussion about him and about effectively his political tantrum.
“I just think we have to focus on what is right and in the interests of the country, and not on this sort of political stunt.”
Watch: We fact checked Nigel Farage's resignation speech
07:15 , Joe MiddletonAnalysis: Farage gambles to save his dream of being PM
07:00 , Joe MiddletonFarage must know that his chances of entering Downing Street are close to being extinguished and this is his last chance to move the dial – and that is the real reason for this latest drama, as political editor David Maddox reports
Farage’s by-election gamble is last bid to save his dream of being PM
ICYMI: Jenrick admits two by-elections would be 'utterly ridiculous'
06:00 , Joe MiddletonReform MP Robert Jenrick has admitted it would be “ridiculous” if two by-elections were held in Clacton should Nigel Farage win the seat again.
Parliament’s standards commissioner will suspend his investigation into Mr Farage’s finances once the by-election begins, but could reopen it should voters return the Reform UK leader to Parliament.
Asked about the possibility of two polls, Mr Jenrick said: “It would be utterly absurd, but so be it.
“If this has to go back to the people of Clacton another time, then bring it on but that would clearly be utterly ridiculous.
“Nigel has got the courage to put himself forward in this election to make his argument to his constituents in Clacton and ultimately to the country that it’s not for bureaucrats and the tired old leaders of the Labour Party and the Tory party and their acolytes in the media to determine who leads this country, it is for the people of this country. So that is what Nigel is doing in this by-election.”
‘He’ll win it’ – Clacton voters back Nigel Farage
05:00 , Joe MiddletonVoters in Clacton-on-Sea have largely expressed support for Nigel Farage after he said he would stand down as the constituency’s MP to fight a by-election, although one resident said people have “had enough of all this politics”.
Retired nursery nurse Janet Simpson, who was in the Essex town centre on Tuesday, said: “I think it’ll just tick people off basically because they’ve had enough of all this politics, and Andy Burnham and Starmer, and people have just had enough.
“And I think they’re all wings of the same bird.”
The 73-year-old from Clacton continued: “They’re all wings of the same bird, politicians.
“I just don’t know, I really don’t know, I just think it seems like he’s sort of trying to clear his name a bit, is he?
“Well good for him if that’s what he’s trying to do, but I prefer Rupert Lowe.”
Constituent Wayne Adams, who was at Clacton seafront, said of the by-election: “If Farage is going to do that for the people then I’m backing him and so are a lot of people.”
The 60-year-old, who is ex-military, said: “As far as I’m concerned I like the man’s views, I like what he says.”
A man who gave his name only as John said he believed Mr Farage would win back his seat.
“He’ll win it,” the 71-year-old, who worked in sales for a car firm, said.
“He says what everybody round here thinks.
“We’re sick to the back teeth with what’s going on with the immigration and everything else.
“It’s just the numbers, the country can’t afford it.
ICYMI: Angry Nigel Farage quits as Reform MP to 'stick two fingers up to the establishment'
04:00 , Joe MiddletonICYMI: Union chief blames Labour failures for rise of Reform
03:00 , Joe MiddletonUnite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This latest distraction from the everyday issues real people are facing will have workers and communities holding their head in their hands.
“Everyday people are hurting and this latest pantomime does nothing to ease their pain.
“Nigel Farage is certainly no friend of the working class. A privately educated former banker who moved from trading in the City to trading in fear.
“The rise of Reform and Restore is down to the non-delivery of Labour.
“It is now time for Labour to deliver. This latest diversion must not distract from that.”
ICYMI: Farage could face Greens, independents and Binface
02:00 , Joe MiddletonAfter Labour, the Conservatives, Lib Dems and Restore Britain said they would boycott the by-election, it seems Mr Farage’s only opponents could be the Greens, Count Binface and any independent candidates.
A Green Party spokesman said it was a decision for local members in Clacton whether to put up a candidate “but we are a political party – we contest elections”.
Count Binface – who stands in elections to mock the political system – has appealed for residents in the constituency to nominate him.
ICYMI: Badenoch accuses Farage of running from scrutiny
01:00 , Joe MiddletonBranding Mr Farage’s by-election “fake”, Kemi Badenoch said: “We will be standing a candidate in the real by-election, which will follow the standards investigation into Nigel Farage’s fishy finances.
“We will not be standing a candidate in the fake by-election that Farage is causing to distract people from what is happening.
“We need to let that investigation run its course, and I think the reason why Nigel Farage has resigned is because he’s terrified that he’s going to be found to have done something wrong.”
She said he should have explained what he did with the money and apologise if need be.
“Instead, he has been running away from scrutiny. No one is bigger than Parliament. We all have to register our interests.”
Watch: Last ditch battle to save Farage, Reform, and Brexit
Tuesday 7 July 2026 23:59 , Joe MiddletonWatch: We fact checked Nigel Farage's resignation speech
Tuesday 7 July 2026 23:07 , Joe MiddletonExplainer: The claims against Farage over funding and why they matter
Tuesday 7 July 2026 23:00 , Jane Dalton
What is Nigel Farage accused of and why does it matter?
Clacton voters back Farage to regain seat
Tuesday 7 July 2026 22:00 , Jane Dalton
Clacton voters react to Nigel Farage triggering by-election
Farage offers to pay for by-election
Tuesday 7 July 2026 21:20 , Jane DaltonBy-elections cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds, official figures show.
But in an effort to forestall criticism, Nigel Farage said Reform was offering to pay for the vote.
However, the move is unlikely to be legal, given that the party will contest the by-election – although with political opponents boycotting the by-election, it’s unclear whether it will even go ahead.
Polling expert John Curtice predicts Farage landslide win
Tuesday 7 July 2026 20:56 , Jane DaltonEven though all the main parties are boycotting the Clacton by-election, it’s too late for the poll to be cancelled, and Nigel Farage is likely to win by a huge majority, according to elections expert Sir John Curtice.
Technically an MP cannot resign but must make themselves ineligible to be an MP by being appointed by the Treasury as a steward of the Chiltern Hundreds.
Prof Curtice told The Independent that once the Speaker has moved the writ for a by-election, the returning officer had to go ahead with the election.
“He’s no longer an MP, but he wants to get back into the Commons, so he has to stand,” he said.
“So he he can't pull out now, he can’t cancel his resignation.”
Prof Curtice said the by-election would mirror that of David Davis in 2008, which became a “damp squib” because only minor candidates stood and Mr Davis won 72 per cent of the vote.
Analysis: The shadow of David Davis’s failed by-election hangs over Farage’s desperate ploy
Tuesday 7 July 2026 20:45 , Jane DaltonBy political editor David Maddox:
It may not be a complete coincidence that one of Kemi Badenoch’s most senior advisers worked for David Davis in 2008 when he called a by-election – and she has now decided not to stand a candidate against Nigel Farage.
Timothy Smith, an Australian who would go on to be a Victoria state parliamentarian and who is now a senior Tory adviser, was in the room when David Davis called a by-election in protest over Tony Blair’s anti-terrorism policy.
While Mr Smith is coy about what happened, the political stunt by Mr Davis fizzled out quickly because nobody would stand against him.
He called a by-election in his Haltemprice and Howden constituency in protest at Mr Blair’s plans to introduce 42 days of being able to hold terror suspects in detention without being charged. He saw it as a major infringement of civil liberties.
In calling the by-election, he had to resign from the Tory front bench as shadow home secretary but then the idea of a debate failed to catch fire when nobody serious stood against him and he essentially was a lone candidate against people like the Monster Raving Looney Party candidate.
Ms Badenoch has now decided to take the same approach to Mr Farage’s “fake by-election”, as have Labour and the Lib Dems.
It will be Farage versus Count Binface. It means Mr Farage’s hopes of getting a mandate to justify himself over questions around his personal finances and political friendships will come to nothing, just as Mr Davis’s hopes of creating a debate in 2008 also failed.
We may soon revisit the entire question if another by-election is called as a result of Mr Farage being found guilty of impropriety if that ends up being the conclusion of the parliamentary standards investigation.
