Reform UK has announced it will request that the Clacton byelection be held on 6 August, following Nigel Farage's decision to resign from the seat. The party's leader, who has represented the Essex constituency since the 2024 general election, stated on Tuesday that he was stepping down and would re-enter the contest, framing it as a "people versus the establishment" battle.
Scandal and boycott
Farage's move to use the byelection to distance himself from a deepening scandal over financial gifts he received appears to have backfired, as his main rivals declared they would boycott the poll. Currently, only novelty candidate Count Binface has confirmed he will stand against Farage.
On Wednesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves approved Farage's formal resignation as an MP by appointing him steward of the Manor of Northstead, the traditional procedure for MPs to leave their seats. In a social media post, Reeves remarked: "If he wants to spend the summer arguing with a bin, I won't stop him."
Official request
A Reform UK spokesperson confirmed: "Reform UK will move the writ tomorrow morning, and we are proposing a byelection on 6 August." The byelection is expected to be a contentious event, with Farage seeking to reassert his political standing amid ongoing controversy.
