Polling in the Clacton by-election closes at 10pm on Thursday, with the result expected overnight or potentially around 5am on Friday because a record 34 candidates are standing. The contest matters because it was triggered by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in protest over scrutiny of his finances and supporters, and major parties including Labour, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are not taking part.

Polling stations open from 7am to 10pm, and there will be no exit poll. A Survation survey for Mandate Research put Farage on 73% and Count Binface on 20% among Clacton voters, while a separate Ipsos hypothetical national head-to-head found 33% of British adults preferred Count Binface, compared with 21% for Farage.