The Clacton by-election, called by Nigel Farage after he resigned his Commons seat, is unlikely to end scrutiny over a £5 million donation and other controversies, Labour and Conservative officials say. A record 34 candidates stood — including satirical rival Count Binface — while turnout was reported roughly 15% lower than at the July 2024 general election. The parliamentary standards probe into the donation was paused on his resignation but would resume if he wins; a suspension over 10 days could trigger a recall petition and another contest.
Clacton By-Election Won't End Scrutiny Over Farage's £5m Donation, Say Labour And Tories
FILE PHOTO: Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaks during a press conference at Royal Horseguards Hotel. (is associated with: «Rivals say Clacton result will not make Farage donation questions stop») Jonathan Brady/PA Wire/dpa
Labour and Conservative figures in the UK say the Clacton by-election called by Nigel Farage will not draw a line under continuing questions about a £5 million donation and other controversies surrounding the Reform UK leader.
Polling stations closed at 22:00 BST (2100 GMT) in a contest deliberately avoided by the two main Westminster parties. Farage stood to retain the seat he won in the 2024 general election after resigning to force the by-election and frame it as a "people versus the establishment" showdown.
Rivals: By-Election Is No Cover
Labour chair Bridget Phillipson accused Farage of using the contest as a distraction. She said he "can't run from the truth forever," criticizing his decision to resign and reopen the contest while questions about donations and other links remain unanswered.
"The list of unanswered questions about the £5 million gift he hid from the public, his support from a convicted fraudster, and the mountain of other scandals he and Reform are facing isn't going away," Phillipson said.
A Conservative Party spokesman described the vote as a "stunt" intended to draw a line under scrutiny of the donation, saying the by-election would not end inquiries.
Candidates, Turnout And Cost
A record 34 candidates contested the seat, ranging from independents and minor party figures to satirical entrants. Among them were Count Binface — a performer wearing a metallic bin helmet who attracted significant media attention — actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox and three candidates from the Official Monster Raving Loony Party. Early returns suggested turnout was down by roughly 15% compared with the July 2024 general election.
Officials estimated the by-election cost taxpayers about £250,000. Organisers even advised photographers and TV crews they would likely need wide-angle lenses to fit all 34 candidates into a single shot during the count.
Investigation And Possible Consequences
Before resigning, Farage was being investigated by parliamentary standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg over a £5 million gift from cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne, which he received before taking his seat in the Commons. New MPs must register gifts worth more than £300 received in the previous 12 months unless the gift could not reasonably be linked to political activity.
The probe was paused when Farage resigned but would resume if he wins the by-election — bookmakers made him the favourite. He may also face scrutiny over support from long-term associate George Cottrell, who reportedly recruited and paid staff for Farage's social media operation and allowed him use of a five-storey Georgian property near Buckingham Palace.
If the standards investigation finds he breached the rules and a suspension of more than 10 sitting days is imposed, that could trigger a recall petition and potentially force a second by-election.
In the 2024 general election Farage won Clacton with 46.2% of the vote and a majority of 8,405 over the Conservative candidate. The result of this by-election was expected in the early hours of Friday.
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