Nigel Farage has insisted the Clacton by-election is “real” - despite being ridiculed for his only opponent being a bin.
The Reform leader triggered the contest on Tuesday amid growing scrutiny over his finances after reports that long-term ally George Cottrell had provided undeclared funding for security and staffing in the year before he was elected.
But he is facing claims the election will be a “farce” after all the major parties said they would not stand against him, leaving his only opponent as “joke” candidate Count Binface.
Asked on Thursday if he had considered the possibility of fighting as the only proper candidate, he told the Daily Mail: “No, of course not. Why would they [not contest]? It's a real election.”
He added: “The fact Labour and the Conservatives don't want to stand, they're both showing contempt for the electorate. They can use whatever terms they want - it's a real election with real people.”
On Thursday morning, ministers suggested Mr Farage was “trying to pretend he’s Donald Trump” by calling a by-election.
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Key Points
- Nigel Farage insists Clacton by election is ‘real’ - despite only opponent being a bin
- Farage ‘trying to pretend he’s Donald Trump’ by calling by election, minister says
- Law to be changed to allow grooming gang leader to be deported
- Fresh donations claims hit Reform as police investigate Jenrick Tory campaign cash
Farage ‘trying to pretend he’s Donald Trump’ by calling by election, minister says
08:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:
A government minister has accused Nigel Farage of “trying to pretend he’s Donald Trump” by calling a by election in Clacton.
Trade minister Sir Chris Bryant said Labour had decided not to stand a candidate after Mr Farage had a “hissy fit” and added: “I just don’t think that we should play along with that game.”
“I know what Nigel Farage is trying to do,” he told Sky News.
“He’s trying to pretend that he’s Donald Trump, and that they’re all out to get me in for me, in for me, all of that kind of stuff.
“I just don’t think it washes with most ordinary members of the public.”
Nigel Farage insists Clacton by election is ‘real’ - despite only opponent being a bin
07:41 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:
Nigel Farage has insisted the by election he is fighting in Clacton-on-Sea is “real” - despite the only major candidate running against him being a man dressed as a bin.
The Reform UK leader’s bid to trigger a by election on Tuesday backfired massively after all the major parties said they would not stand in the “fake” contest.
The only candidate running against him so far is a ‘joke’ candidate, called Count Binface.
Asked on Thursday if he had considered the possibility of fighting as the only proper candidate, he told the Daily Mail: “No, of course not. Why would they [not contest]? It's a real election.”
He added: “The fact Labour and the Conservatives don't want to stand, they're both showing contempt for the electorate. They can use whatever terms they want - it's a real election with real people.”
Burnham on course to become PM on 20 July
07:00 , Jane DaltonFormer Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham will be formally declared Labour leader at a special conference on Friday 17 July, if no other candidates come forward.
He is expected to become prime minister three days later.
The Makerfield MP will still take part in an online hustings with Labour MPs on Monday evening, even if he is the only one in the running.
When ex-defence minister Al Carns was asked on Sky News whether he would put himself forward, he said it was clear that a three-month contest was “probably not the best use of Labour’s time”.
“So, my view would be we need to get on board. Andy’s done a good job with Manchester, he’s done a great job during Covid, he’s seen the Manchester Arena attack and dealt with that very effectively, and the economic trajectory of Manchester’s in a positive way.
“If we can do that at the local, the regional level, and the national level, I think that’s hitting the right place.”
Green Party split over opposition to missiles
06:00 , Jane DaltonThe Green Party appears to be split over its defence policy after members called for the party to allow the use of semi-autonomous drones and anti-ballistic missile systems – in what would be a U-turn on current policy.
Green Party split as members demand vote on dropping opposition to missiles
The people of Clacton deserve better than this circus
05:00 , Jane DaltonThe business of adjudicating on the rules can’t be outsourced to seaside towns in Essex, writes David Aaronovitch:
The people of Clacton deserve better than this Nigel Farage circus
‘Farage doesn’t care about Clacton – but I’ll still be voting for him’
03:59 , Jane DaltonFor many voters in Clacton, support for their scandal-hit former MP remains unwavering:
‘Farage doesn’t care about Clacton – but I’ll still be voting for him’
Watch: Moment Al Carns announces he will not run against Burnham
02:30 , Jane DaltonMPs want veto power over political ambassadors after Mandelson scandal
Thursday 9 July 2026 00:01 , Jane DaltonParliament’s foreign affairs committee wants to be given the power to veto political appointments to top diplomatic posts after the scandal surrounding Peter Mandelson’s role as ambassador to Washington.
MPs on the committee said there were still unanswered questions over Mandelson’s appointment and that documents showed a “dismissive view” about the need for security clearance.
They are pushing for reforms to security vetting and due diligence, including for public appointments not to be made before vetting is completed.
Mandelson was sacked as ambassador to the US in September 2025 after leaked emails that showed the peer sent supportive messages to late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein even as he faced jail for sex offences.
In April, it emerged that Foreign Office civil servants granted the peer developed vetting clearance despite the recommendation that this be denied.
Burnham vows to spend billions in defence funding on British firms
Wednesday 8 July 2026 23:26 , Harriette BoucherAndy Burnham has announced that he wants billions of pounds of additional defence spending to go into British businesses.
As prime minister, he would aim to support British jobs and British workers by relying on the UK for equipment rather than American or European companies.
Writing in The Times, he said his priority would be “protecting the UK by boosting defence spending, reviving local industry and strengthening our alliances.”
He added that he also wanted to be “more open with the public about how and where defence funding is spent.
“We will take a new approach to regenerating and reindustrialising the country, and thereby strengthening its resilience.
“ That same approach will consider foreign policy, economic policy, security, social cohesion and British values as inextricably linked elements of the same strategic question.”
Law to be changed to allow grooming gang leader to be deported
Wednesday 8 July 2026 23:00 , Jane DaltonThe Home Secretary is set to change the law to allow the deportation of a Rochdale grooming gang leader who was released from prison last week.
Shabana Mahmood will set out plans on Monday to amend a 1971 law that prevents the removal of Shabir Ahmed, 73, from the UK.
Ahmed was released last week after serving 14 years since his conviction in 2012 for rape and sexual offences against girls, some as young as 12. He had been sentenced to 19 years in prison.
According to The Telegraph, which first reported Ms Mahmood’s plans, it is not clear whether the changes will come under separate fast-tracked legislation or as an amendment to the Immigration and Asylum Bill, which is due to be debated in the Commons on Monday.
Home Office minister Alex Norris indicated earlier this week that the government could consider emergency legislation.
Ahmed is currently exempt from deportation but Mr Norris said the government would not give up in its efforts to deport him due to his “heinous” crimes.
The 1971 law forbids the removal of a small group of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK more than 50 years ago.
Opinion: Farage can be defeated, but someone must step up – like I did
Wednesday 8 July 2026 21:50 , Jane DaltonVeteran ex-BBC reporter Martin Bell says voters will rally behind the right independent candidate:
Nigel Farage can be defeated, but someone must step up – like I did
Fresh donations claims hit Reform as police investigate Jenrick Tory campaign cash
Wednesday 8 July 2026 21:21 , Jane DaltonPolice are investigating a political donation of nearly £40,000 made to Robert Jenrick’s campaign to become Conservative Party leader.
The Newark MP ran to succeed Rishi Sunak as Tory leader in 2024 and lost to Kemi Badenoch. He has since defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, where he is the Treasury spokesman.
The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into the origins of a donation after a referral from the Electoral Commission, The i Paper reports.
The money in question is a portion of a £100,000 donation from British entrepreneur Phillip Ullmann, via a company called Spott Fitness, to Mr Jenrick’s leadership campaign.
There have been allegations that £37,500 of it ultimately came from a foreign source – US businessman Gary Klopfenstein – in breach of UK electoral rules.
Mr Jenrick rejected the allegations, saying they were “entirely false”.
A spokesman for the Reform UK MP dismissed the suggestion that he knowingly accepted impermissible donations as an “untrue, politically motivated smear”.
He said: “Mr Ullman was introduced to Robert by a Tory MP, and had his donations’ permissibility checked by the party.
“Robert and his campaign team complied with all electoral laws when receiving the donation received from Spott Fitness Ltd in 2024.”
Carol Vorderman brands Farage ‘snake oil salesman’
Wednesday 8 July 2026 21:00 , Jane Dalton
Nigel Farage is a ‘snake oil salesman’ for by-election plan, says Carol Vorderman
Reform choose earliest possible Thursday for voting
Wednesday 8 July 2026 20:15 , Jane DaltonNigel Farage wants the by-election in Clacton to take place on the earliest date possible, on August 6.
Reform UK said it would propose that date when it launches the parliamentary process to trigger the contest tomorrow.
The House of Commons library sets out that a by-election cannot take place for at least 21 working days after a writ is issued.
This Friday will count as day one, and 21 days after that come to Friday 31 July. The first Thursday - elections are always held on Thursdays - after that is 6 August.
Al Carns says he will not challenge Burnham
Wednesday 8 July 2026 19:33 , Jane DaltonThe last remaining potential rival to Andy Burnham as the next Labour leader and prime minister says he will not stand against the new Makerfield MP.
Former defence minister Al Carns has told Sky’s The Cathy Newman Show he will back Burnham instead.
He said: “The time right now is not for a contest.”
If no other challengers come forward, Mr Burnham will become Labour leader next Friday.
Watch: How PMQs turned Farage into a figure of fun
Wednesday 8 July 2026 19:00 , Jane DaltonGo-ahead for by-election as Reeves says: ‘I won’t stop him arguing with a bin’ – full report
Wednesday 8 July 2026 18:30 , Jane Dalton
Farage by-election approved as Reeves declares: ‘I won’t stop him arguing with a bin’
