But that is exactly what Labour ministers and opposition parties are urging Ms Reeves to do \u2013 to deny him his \u201cgimmick\u201d Clacton vote <\/a>until the outcome of a parliamentary \u2018sleaze\u2019 probe <\/a>into the Reform UK leader \u2013 at least temporarily.<\/p>\n Critics backing such a move say the \u201cpeople of Clacton deserve the facts\u201d before they go to the polls.<\/p>\n Why does Farage want a by-election?<\/p>\n In his resignation speech on Tuesday, the Reform leader accused his opponents of using the parliamentary investigation against him as a \u201cpolitical tool\u201d.<\/p>\n He is facing questions over a \u00a35m gift from a crypto-billionaire and support provided by a convicted fraudster, George Cottrell.<\/p>\n Nigel Farage has announced he will quit and fight a by-election in his Clacton seat (Gareth Fuller\/PA) (PA Wire)<\/p>\n He insists he has done nothing wrong, but if he is found to have broken strict parliamentary rules, his punishment could trigger a series of events that ultimately leads to a by-election in his seat.<\/p>\n Calling the by-election himself seems to be an attempt to grab the initiative and prove the public is on his side. He even said it would be a \u201cpeople versus the establishment\u201d election.<\/p>\n But critics claim the vote should not go ahead until the investigation into Mr Farage has been completed. It has been suspended until this by-election has concluded, although it will resume if he is re-elected.<\/p>\n Why is the chancellor in charge of whether an MP can resign?<\/p>\n As they are elected members of parliament, MPs are in theory unable to resign and must become disqualified if they wish to leave Westminster while Parliament is sitting.<\/p>\n To do so, they must be appointed to be Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern.<\/p>\n Holding the Chiltern Hundreds, or the similar Manor of Northstead title immediately disqualifies a person by law from being an MP and therefore removes them from the House of Commons.<\/p>\n And the person who appoints these positions is the chancellor. That was why in 2023 the then-chancellor<\/a> Jeremy Hunt<\/a> appointed Boris Johnson to the Chiltern Hundreds when he resigned.<\/p>\n Rachel Reeves is being urged to block Farage\u2019s resignation (Getty)<\/p>\n What are ministers and opposition MPs urging Reeves to do?<\/p>\n Labour minister Chris Bryant posted on X, formerly Twitter, that there is precedent for the chancellor to block an MP\u2019s resignation.<\/p>\n \u201cThe chancellor refused to appoint Henry Cadogan MP for Reading to the Chiltern Hundreds in 1842 because he believed the MP was attempting to vacate his seat to conceal corrupt financial compromises and electoral bribery,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n His message was also reposted by another minister, Labour MP Angela Eagle. However, it seems to have been later deleted.<\/p>\n![\"Nigel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3cbdb350d5d7be7bf7b5b4d242b50033.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Rachel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c044fb502064d1bed0f817118dfffa99.jpeg\"\/)
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