Nigel Farage is seeking to regain the Clacton seat he resigned, having triggered a by-election amid scrutiny of financial support from donors. The contest matters because a victory would return the Reform UK leader to Westminster, while also allowing a paused parliamentary standards investigation to resume.

The main Westminster parties are boycotting the vote, but a record 34 candidates are standing, including Count Binface, Laurence Fox and three Monster Raving Loony Party candidates. The election is expected to cost about £250,000 and requires a 90cm ballot paper, while Farage remains the bookmakers’ favourite after winning the seat in 2024 with 46.2% of the vote and an 8,405 majority.