Nigel Farage has dramatically announced he is quitting as the MP for Clacton so he can prove his critics wrong by winning in a by-election there – The Mirror answers all your burning questions
Nigel Farage has dramatically announced he is quitting as the MP for Clacton – so he can attempt to prove his critics wrong by winning a by-election there.
The Reform UK leader was blasted over the “desperate stunt” and “gimmick” which could cost the taxpayer tens of thousands of pounds.
It is not yet clear whether the other main Westminster parties will boycott the by-election. Restore Britain has already said it won’t be standing – and if the other parties choose not to stand, the wind will be knocked out of Mr Farage’s sails.
If Mr Farage does win, a standards probe over his failure to declare a £5million gift will be resumed and could end with him facing another by-election in his seat.
The Mirror answers all your burning questions on what’s been announced, why it’s been announced and what happens next.
What did Nigel Farage announce?
Nigel Farage has said he will quit as the MP for Clacton – triggering a by-election in the seaside town in Essex.
The Reform UK leader said he would stand in the contest in what he called “a people versus the Establishment” by-election.
In a 20-minute statement broadcast on his X account, he continued: “I have decided today I will resign as a Member of Parliament for Clacton-on-Sea, thereby forcing a by-election, which should happen, I hope, in short order. Now I’ve decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions.
“This will be a people versus the establishment by-election. It’s a chance to stick two fingers up to the entire Establishment to frankly tell them where to go, and that is why I will be putting my name forward to stand in this by-election. I will fight to win.”
Why has Nigel Farage announced this?
Mr Farage has been under mounting pressure over his finances in recent weeks.
He faces a standards probe over a £5million gift he received before the general election from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. And he over the weekend he was again referred to Parliament’s standards commissioner over claims he failed to declare staffing, security and housing he received from convicted criminal George Cottrell.
Mr Farage said he believes he has “absolutely obeyed” the rules and suggested “the establishment” had chosen to use “foul means” to beat Reform UK. He said he has “decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions”.
But his critics have blasted the move as a “stunt” and a “gimmick” that is designed to distract from serious questions about his finances.
Keir Starmer said: “This is a desperate stunt from Nigel Farage and it’s obvious why he’s doing it – he is up to his neck in sleaze.” And a spokeswoman for PM-in-waiting Andy Burnham said: “This is a gimmick designed to distract from serious allegations about Farage’s funders.” TUC chief Paul Nowak said it is “straight out of the Trumpian playbook – attacking the media and anyone daring to ask legitimate questions about his finances”.
What happens next?
Mr Farage has now has to start the process of formally resigning under archaic parliamentary rules that date back to the early 17th century.
He must write to the Chancellor requesting appointment to one of the two offices – the Chiltern Hundreds or the Manor of Northstead – to legally disqualify him from being an MP.
For a by-election to start, the Chief Whip of the political party that previously held the seat, in this case Reform, must then start the process known as “moving the writ”, which is a formal motion in the House of Commons.
Once this is passed in the Commons, the Speaker puts the question to MPs to decide whether to agree to the motion. If MPs agree it becomes an “Order for the Speaker”. The Speaker then issues a Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown who then sends the physical writ to the Returning Officer in the local area.
Usually the big political parties then hit the ground running as they begin planning campaigns to context the area. But it is not yet clear whether the main Westminster parties will boycott the by-election.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said the Tories will not stand a candidate in “this fake by-election that Farage is causing to distract people from what is happening”. Hard right party Restore Britain, launched by ex-Reform MP turned enemy Rupert Lowe, said it’s not going to participate in a “Reform-sponsored media circus over the summer months”.
In 2008, Labour and the Liberal Democrats did not put forward by-election candidates when David Davis stood down over his opposition to Government plans, branding it a costly publicity stunt.
How much will the by-election cost?
By announcing a by-election, Mr Farage could cost the taxpayer tens of thousands of pounds.
The Reform UK leader said his party has offered to cover the cost – which could exceed £200,000 – and that he has spoken to Tendring District council. But Labour warned him that he cannot “buy his way out” of this and that he needs to take responsibility for making taxpayers pay for his “latest ego trip”.
A Labour source said: “A political figure paying for a by election he is standing in would clearly undermine the independence of the democratic process. It’s baffling that he can’t see that. He cannot just buy his way out of the mess he’s got himself into.
“This by-election will be conducted along the same rules as all elections are in the UK. Farage will have to take responsibility for making taxpayers pay the cost of his latest ego trip.”
When will the by-election be?
The timetable for parliamentary by-elections is set at 21 to 27 working days. This is designed to allow the poll to be held on a Thursday, whenever the writ is moved.
While a writ has not yet been brought, if it was done today, the earliest a vote could be held is July 30. This is the same day as the Manchester Mayoral by-election, which is being held to replace Andy Burnham after he was re-elected as an MP.
Reform chief whip Lee Anderson is expected to move the writ as soon as possible, with other potential dates for the by-election including August 6, 14, or 20.
General elections are traditionally held on a Thursday, but there is no legal requirement for this. A by-election could take place on a different day of the week, but will be expected to be on a Thursday.
Is there a risk he could lose the by-election?
Mr Farage will be hoping he can repeat Andy Burnham’s heroics at the Makerfield by-election but this time on the right of British politics. The Reform UK leader will be using the Clacton contest as an attempt to prove he has a mandate from his constituents – and that voters don’t care about his finances.
Mr Farage’s popularity is well established in the area. It has deep Brexit roots and elected a UKIP MP during the key battle years. It is the reason Brexit architect Mr Farage targeted the constituency during the 2024 election.
The bookies already put Mr Farage as the overwhelming favourite to win the by-election in the ultimately Reform-safe seat, with William Hill saying he has an 87.5% chance of victory. And the news that Restore Britain, which ate into Reform’s vote in Makerfield, is not standing works in Mr Farage’s favour.
But there are always risks in politics. Tactical voting on the left of politics could scupper Reform’s chances, as happened in the Caerphilly or Gorton and Denton by-elections.
Does this mean the £5million gift probe continues?
For now, the investigation will be suspended. But Mr Farage is not off the hook.
Under the Commons’ code of conduct protocol, if an MP ceases to be an MP while an investigation is in progress, the Commissioner will suspend their investigation until they are re-elected.
In theory, this could end up with another by-election being held in Clacton. If Mr Farage is found to have breached the rules, sanctions could include a Commons suspension that could trigger a recall petition and a by-election in his seat. Restore Britain has said it will instead stand in this hypothetical by-election.
Mr Farage will hope that a victory in Clacton this summer will allow him to get around the investigation and show the standards commissioner than his constituents still support him despite the £5m gift.
And even if Mr Farage loses in the Clacton by-election, the investigation could still continue. “If the Member is not returned to Parliament, the Commissioner will decide if it is appropriate and proportionate to resume their investigation,” the rules state.