Record 34 Candidates Declared For Clacton By-Election — Full List And What They Stand For

Thirty-four candidates have been nominated for the Clacton by-election — a record for a UK parliamentary contest — after the main Westminster parties chose not to oppose Reform UK. Polling day on the Essex coast is Thursday, 13 August. The constituency covers Clacton-on-Sea and the nearby coastal towns of Frinton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze, plus inland villages including Tendring and Wix.

The BBC is still seeking further information from several nominees. Below is an edited, alphabetically ordered rundown of the candidates and the key points of their campaigns.

Who Is Standing (Alphabetical)

Joseph 77 (Tom Darwood) — A performer who says he will act as "a surrogate prime minister" if elected. On his website he explains he adopts the name Joseph in reference to the Old Testament figure and plans to campaign "in song and verse."

Adham Alkhatip — An engineering student at Queen Mary University of London who previously worked as a housekeeping assistant in a Birmingham hospital. He announced his candidacy on TikTok and says he will run on an "anti-corruption, pro-worker" platform.

Count Binface (Jon Harvey) — A comedian and author known for standing in elections in a silver dustbin costume. His policies include abolishing the House of Lords, banning noisy cinema snacks and scrapping VAR in football.

Nick The Incredible Flying Brick — One of three Monster Raving Loony Party candidates in the by-election. The party’s Clacton proposals include renaming the town "Eric," reducing crime by cutting by-elections to free up police resources, and giving a fictional "Clacton Peer" a seat in the Lords.

Tony Cane (Matthew Carr) — Standing as an independent. His website discusses the economy and environment; he says Brexit was missold and argues leaving the EU has been costly. He advocates greater market competition to force prices down.

William Clouston — Leader of the Social Democratic Party. He criticised major parties for boycotting the contest and lists SDP policies that include renationalising utilities, ending mass migration, withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights, and deporting those judged to be illegal arrivals.

Rees Cowne — Runs a talent-management business, plays guitar and develops digital games. He says he does not seek a political career but wants to "build a fair, powerful and economically serious Britain," pledging to improve high streets, expand access to mental-health services and protect beaches.

Glenn Cummings — Independent candidate; BBC has sought further details on his platform.

Martin Davies — Former banker and leader of the Freedom Alliance, which promotes individual liberty, accountable government and strong local communities. The party opposes plans for unitary councils and a mayor for Essex and calls for investment to create jobs in Clacton.

Andy Erlam — Independent candidate; BBC has attempted to contact him for policy details.

Nigel Farage — Elected Clacton MP in 2024 for Reform UK, Farage resigned to trigger the by-election. He says he seeks the public’s backing amid allegations he failed to properly declare donations from two businessmen; he denies any wrongdoing. A Parliamentary Standards Commissioner investigation into one donation has been suspended while the by-election takes place.

Attieh Fard — Campaigner and lawyer who previously stood as a Conservative in Surrey local elections. Active on social media and a vocal critic of Nigel Farage.

Laurence Fox — Actor-turned-activist and founder of the Reclaim Party, which emphasises patriotism, border protection and support for working-class communities. Fox lives in neighbouring Colchester and has said Clacton is "his back yard."

Tony Francis — Local resident standing independently. He says he will prioritise local people, practical solutions, coastline and open-space protection, support for older and vulnerable residents, and improved transport.

Robin Green — Independent candidate; BBC has sought comment on his policies.

Abi Hookway — Property investor from Doncaster who says she rebuilt her life after significant personal debt. She will focus on cost of living, housing, community safety and restoring trust in public life.

Howling Laud Hope — One of three Monster Raving Loony Party candidates; see other Loony entries for the party’s proposals.

Stephen Ingram — Independent; BBC has tried to contact him for policy details.

Amy Morris — A 22-year-old from Essex who works in insurance and says she has not previously stood for election. She is campaigning in protest against inheritance tax, which she calls "draconian and unfair."

Dr Derrick Norbert Morris — Arrived in the UK as an asylum seeker from Guyana three years ago; his claim was accepted and he has since lived in Clacton. In communications with the BBC he has made controversial statements including opposition to mixed marriages and scepticism about climate change; he says he wants to boost the local economy and attract more tourists by improving the pier and beach access.

Michael O'Keeffe — Independent candidate and retired headteacher with 35 years in education. He argues opportunity in Britain often depends on postcode and favors empowering local communities in decision-making.

Martyn O'Brien — Independent; BBC has attempted to contact him for more information on his platform.

Nicholas Pelas — Works in health and social care and has lived in Clacton for more than a decade. He plans to campaign to revive the High Street and create local jobs.

Ketankumar Pipaliya — Leader of the UKVoice party, which promotes "practical, honest leadership" and says it avoids ideological extremes. He says he intends to be a local voice for Clacton rather than pursue a Westminster career.

Daniel Pocock — Software engineer who highlights his work on technology ethics. He plans to prioritise online child safety, AI policy, cryptocurrency regulation and cybersecurity.

James Ransley — Founder of the Consensus Party (2023) and a parish councillor in Kent. The BBC has sought further details of his policies.

Gerry Smith — Independent candidate; BBC has sought comment on his platform.

Kai Stephens — A 21-year-old from Norwich who posted on X that the far‑right party he represents is the only serious, patriotic and "NATIONALIST" option. The party was founded in 2011 by former members of the British National Party.

John Stevens — Deputy leader of the Rejoin EU Party and a former Conservative MEP. He argues leaving the EU was a historic mistake that continues to harm UK politics, the economy and society.

Baron von Thunderclap — The third Monster Raving Loony Party candidate for Clacton; see the other Loony entries for the party’s proposals.

Pamela Walford — Previously stood for Reform UK in local elections. She has not yet responded to requests to explain why she is contesting as an independent or to outline her policies.

Marcus White — One of the founders of the Everyone Is God Party, which offers a "visionary blueprint" and claims an ambitious economic growth plan.

Marc Williamson / Marc Wilkinson — Listed in coverage and nomination records with slightly differing names. He has launched the Essex People party and says it will represent Essex interests and oppose billionaire influence on politics; official documents note a name discrepancy in the Statement of Persons Nominated.

Official Nominations — The full Statement of Persons Nominated is available from Tendring District Council, which oversees the by-election. The BBC continues to seek additional information from some candidates.

Further Reading — The by-election follows Nigel Farage’s resignation and related media coverage. For official nomination records, see Tendring District Council; for related reporting, see BBC coverage of the Clacton contest.