Tendring District Council, which is overseeing the by-election in Clacton, United Kingdom, announced a record field of 34 candidates contesting the parliamentary seat, believed to be the largest ever in a UK parliamentary election. This by-election was triggered by the resignation of Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing Reform UK party, earlier this month amid controversy over gifts and donations he had not initially declared under parliamentary rules.

Farage faces 33 opponents, including Count Binface, a candidate known for wearing a bin on his head and considered Farage's top competition. The scrutiny surrounding Farage intensified after it was revealed in June that he had received a five-million-pound ($6.7 million) gift from a billionaire cryptocurrency investor.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in London on Friday, July 17, 2026, Farage stated that the by-election would allow voters to decide whether to return him to parliament.

Most UK constituency contests typically feature only a handful of candidates, making this election notably competitive. Meanwhile, police are investigating donations to the far-right Reform party.

Sources