Farage resigns as MP and vows to fight Clacton by-election

[T_i_B]

If I were a resident of Clacton-on-Sea I'd be furious at Farage for wasting everyone's time with this by-election. Old Frogface has clearly learnt all the wrong lessons from Andy Burnham in Makerfield.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0ly51kzdz3o

Nigel Farage says he will resign as MP for Clacton and stand in the subsequent by-election, after facing intense scrutiny over financial support he has received.

But the Conservatives, Labour, Restore Britain and the Lib Dems have ruled out standing candidates against him, in an effective boycott by his main opponents.

Farage has been under investigation from Parliament's standards commissioner since May after not declaring a £5m gift he received from a billionaire Reform donor before he became an MP.

Farage's resignation will mean the ongoing investigation by the standards commissioner into the £5m gift is suspended. It will be resumed if Farage wins the by-election and returns to Parliament. One possible outcome of a standards investigation is a suspension which triggers a recall petition. This process enables an MP to be removed and a by-election triggered if 10% of eligible registered voters sign a petition.

[Emrys]

1. I hope we can look forward to Count Binface MP n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. He already has control of the parties that got more than Farage's vote in 2024

In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, the comedian Jon Harvey, also known as Count Binface, offered his candidacy as a unifying force. “Labour, Tories, Lib Dems and Greens: I demand you stand down in Clacton,” Count Binface wrote. “I will be a unity candidate and pledge to build at least one affordable house. Nigel Farage says he wants The People versus the Establishment. So be it. Leave him to me.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/07/nigel-farage-rejects-scrutiny-uk-parliament-people-v-establishment-byelection

The first 3 have stood down. Between them, they got 48.5% of the vote.

[Emrys]

3. Well, in 2010, Farage came a dismal third in an election, beaten by a guy dressed as a dolphin called Flipper,

so stranger things have happened.



Not sure I understand the boycott of the by-election by the major parties. I mean, I could understand it as a tactic if the intention was to give as few rival candidates as possible a chance to beat Farage, but it's not clear that's the case.

Or perhaps they'd prefer Farage to win, then have to go back to parliament to face the music all over again. If so, I hope his constituents enjoy a succession of by-elections.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Reeves confirms she will approve Farage's resignation

Lee Anderson, the Reform UK chief whip, gave an interview to GB News earlier today during which he said Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, had not yet approved Nigel Farage’s resignation.

Reeves has now confirmed that she will go ahead and accept the resignation. She is ignoring the Liberal Democrats, who want her to become the first chancellor since 1842 to block the process. (See 10.54am.)

In a post on social media, Reeves says:

I will accept Nigel Farage’s request to be appointed Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.

It is a farce and a desperate distraction, and the people of Clacton deserve better.

But if he wants to spend the summer arguing with a bin, I won’t stop him.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/jul/08/nigel-farage-reform-uk-clacton-5m-gift-crime-agency-labour-keir-starmer-pmqs-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6a4e4c918f086f7ff3c33a79#block-6a4e4c918f086f7ff3c33a79

[LeftishBrit]

5. Binface for Clacton!