A total of 34 candidates have confirmed their intention to run in the Clacton constituency by-election, prompted by the resignation of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. While Farage is standing again, he faces a crowded field of opponents, including 20 independents and several joke candidates.
Among the notable contenders are actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox, who is running for The Reclaim Party, and Count Binface, a joke candidate fielding for the Count Binface Party. The previous record for the most candidates in a UK by-election was 26, set in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election in 2008.
The main Westminster parties have declined to participate in the contest, with no candidates fielded by Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, or the Green Party. This decision has led to a field of independent candidates, some of whom are seeking to capitalise on the public's frustration with mainstream politics.
The lengthy Statement of Persons Nominated has been posted outside Clacton Town Hall and published on the Tendring District Council website, detailing the full list of candidates. The by-election is set to take place on 13 August.
While Farage's return to the fray has dominated the headlines, his opponents are seeking to tap into the public's desire for change and alternative voices. The outcome of this by-election will be closely watched as a barometer of public sentiment in the run-up to the next general election.