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Nigel Farage is set to face an unprecedented 33 rival candidates in the Clacton-on-Sea by-election, a contest he initiated in protest against media and parliamentary scrutiny of his financial affairs and backers.
The main Westminster parties have opted to boycott the by-election, dismissing it as a mere “stunt” by the Reform UK leader.
Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, Green Party and Restore Britain will not be fielding candidates.
Tendring District Council has confirmed a total of 34 candidates will stand in the 13 August by-election (PA)
Yvette Cooper called the move by Farage a “political tantrum”, while others labelled it as “fake” and a “gimmick” to distract from serious allegations about him.
This leaves a diverse field of opponents, with satirical candidate Count Binface and actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox emerging as his most prominent challengers.
Mr Farage had envisioned the contest as a “people versus the establishment” showdown, but he now finds himself up against a varied group, including three candidates from the Official Monster Raving Loony Party and numerous independents.
Tendring District Council has confirmed a total of 34 candidates will stand in the 13 August by-election, a figure believed to be a record for any parliamentary contest.
The previous record, according to the council, was 26 candidates, set during the Haltemprice and Howden by-election in July 2008.
Laurence Fox, the former actor who now leads the Reclaim Party, is standing in the by-election. He stood in the 2021 London mayoral election, finishing with 47,635 votes (1.9%) and losing his £10,000 election deposit (AFP/Getty)
That contest was similarly triggered by Conservative MP Sir David Davis in his own seat and also saw the main Westminster parties decline to participate.
Ballots will be allocated to 51 polling stations across the constituency, where almost 80,000 electors will be eligible to vote.
Full list of candidates for the Clacton constituency
– Joseph 77 (Independent)
– Adham Alkhatip (The Forward Party)
– Count Binface (Count Binface Party)
– Nick The Incredible Flying Brick (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
– Tony Cane (Independent)
– Woke Trump Carrzee (Independent)
– William Stuart James Clouston (Social Democratic Party)
– Rees Cowne (Independent)
– Glenn Charles Cummings (Independent)
– Martin Davies (Freedom Alliance – Real People, Real Alternative!)
– Andy Erlam (Independent)
– Nigel Farage (Reform UK)
– Attieh Fard (Independent)
– Laurence Fox (The Reclaim Party)
– Tony Francis (Independent)
– Robin Green (Independent)
– Abi Hookway (Independent)
– Howling Laud Hope (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
– Stephen Richard Ingram (Independent)
– Amy Morris (Independent)
– Derrick Norbert Morris (Independent)
– Michael Noel O’Keeffe (Independent)
– Martyn OBrien (Independent)
– Nick Pelas (Independent)
– Ketankumar Pipaliya (UK VOICE safer and stronger UK)
– Daniel Pocock (Independent)
– James Ransley (Consensus Party Candidate)
– Gerry Smith (Independent)
– Kai Stephens (British Democrats)
– John Stevens (Rejoin EU)
– Baron Von Thunderclap (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
– Pamela Walford (Independent)
– Marcus White (Everyone is God Party)
– Marc Wilkinson (Independent)