Nigel Farage has announced he is resigning as MP for Clacton, triggering a by-election in which voters will face an unusually large field of candidates but no contenders from several major parties. The move comes while Farage faces scrutiny over his personal finances, including an alleged undeclared £5m gift and questions over security funding, prompting opponents to argue that the contest is a distraction from those investigations.

The by-election is due to take place on Thursday 13 August, with the result expected early the following morning; Tendring District Council set the date a week later than Reform UK had hoped. Labour, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Restore Britain have said they will not stand, leaving Reform and independent or smaller-party candidates, including satirical candidate Count Binface and Reclaim Party founder Laurence Fox.