Nigel Farage has been sworn back in as an MP after winning a chaotic by-election in Clacton, resuming his seat as the House of Commons returned from its summer recess. The Reform UK leader had resigned in July amid questions over his finances, prompting a contest he framed as a showdown with the "establishment"; in the end no other major party fielded a candidate, leaving him facing only comedy contender Count Binface.

Farage secured 22,239 votes on 13 August, while Count Binface picked up 9,455 – a strong showing by the novelty candidate's usual standards – though Farage himself skipped the count, citing security advice. He returned to the Commons chamber accompanied by deputy Richard Tice and fellow MP Andrew Rosindell, swearing the oath to the King before signing the official book and briefly speaking with Speaker Lindsay Hoyle. A Commons standards inquiry into a £5 million gift Farage received from crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne, which he insists did not need declaring, has resumed and could trigger a further by-election if a lengthy suspension is recommended; meanwhile, polling suggests the episode has dented Reform's popularity as Labour and the Conservatives recover ground.