George Galloway, leader of the Workers Party of Britain, is attempting to be elected to parliament for an eighth time in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election this week. He has not set foot in the UK, or the constituency, since the campaign began.
Mr Galloway describes himself as being in "self-exile" after being questioned by counter-terrorism police at Gatwick Airport in September last year. Social media posts indicate he has recently been on a speaking tour in South Africa and is currently in Shanghai, China. Prior to this, he was in Moscow.
His campaign has focused on the conflict in Ukraine, with Mr Galloway stating on X in mid-September that "The biggest issue in the H&StP byelection is the path leading us to WW3 in Ukraine." Workers Party activists are campaigning in the constituency without their candidate.
Britain's electoral law allows British, Irish, or qualifying Commonwealth citizens over 18 to stand for parliament without a residency requirement, provided they are not bankrupt or members of specific professions.