Polls close shortly in the Clacton by-election as Nigel Farage attempts to retain his seat in a highly unusual contest.
The Reform UK leader smiled and shook hands with voters on Thursday morning, appearing confident and cheerful despite the fact that nearly all major parties have boycotted the election.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch described it as “fake” while Sir Keir Starmer called it “a desperate political stunt”, leaving Count Binface – a satirical character who has pledged to abolish VAR in football and “nationalise Adele” – as his main rival.
Thursday’s by-election was triggered after Mr Farage resigned amid scrutiny over his finances.
Voters will have until 10pm to cast their ballots, with counting taking place overnight, with the results expected on Friday morning.
It comes as Labour have over taken Reform in a series of polls with Mr Farage's party struggling following a series of scandals, including questions about a £5m donation he received from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne and gifts from a convicted criminal, George Cottrell.
Investigation into Farage will resume if he wins seat
Before quitting Westminster, Nigel Farage was being investigated by the parliamentary standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg over a £5 million gift from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne, which he received before taking his seat in the Commons.
Under Commons rules, new MPs are required to register any gifts worth more than £300 they received in the previous 12 months, except where the gift “could not be reasonably thought by others” to relate to their political activities.
That investigation was paused when Mr Farage resigned his seat but will resume if he wins the by-election – as bookmakers have made him the firm favourite to do.
Mr Farage could also face an investigation over support provided by George Cottrell, a long-term ally.
Mr Cottrell reportedly recruited and paid three staff to work on Mr Farage’s social media before the general election, and has continued to allow him to use a five-storey Georgian property he rented near Buckingham Palace.
The tiny village of Piddington that’s voted to leave the UK
A quaint village in Oxfordshire has staged a referendum where they have voted to leave the United Kingdom - over concerns about a nearby military site being used to house asylum seekers.
The Home Office is considering using the Bicester barracks to house 1,250 people, but this has been met with fierce opposition from the 350 local residents of Piddington.
Reform councillor suspended over social media posts calling for Commons speaker to be hanged
A Reform councillor has been suspended after resurfaced social media posts appeared to show him calling for the Commons speaker to be hanged.
In another post, which has not yet been deleted, the account also made homophobic comments, having said he doesn’t believe “gays should have kids full stop”.
A Reform UK spokesperson said: “Cllr Rowan has been suspended from Reform UK pending investigation.”
Full list of candidates for the Clacton constituency
Here are all 34 candidates:
- Adham Alkhatip (The Forward Party)
- Count Binface (Count Binface Party)
- Nick The Incredible Flying Brick (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
- William Stuart James Clouston (Social Democratic Party)
- Martin Davies (Freedom Alliance – Real People, Real Alternative!)
- Laurence Fox (The Reclaim Party)
- Howling Laud Hope (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
- Ketankumar Pipaliya (UK VOICE safer and stronger UK)
- James Ransley (Consensus Party Candidate)
- Baron Von Thunderclap (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
- Marcus White (Everyone is God Party)
Pictures from Clacton today
What time will the Clacton by-election result be announced?
The result is expected to be announced in the early hours of Friday.
Let rich pensioners opt out of state pension in exchange for OBE, Labour pressure group urges Burnham
Andy Burnham should introduce a ‘pensions sacrifice OBE’ which would allow wealthy pensioners to opt out of their state pension for at least three years in return for an honour, a Labour Party pressure group allied with the prime minister has recommended.
Starmer’s leadership style doesn’t work in politics, admits one of his most senior ex-ministers
Sir Keir Starmer’s approach to governing “doesn’t necessarily work in politics”, a cabinet minister has suggested.
Addressing the No 10 setup during her former boss’s premiership, Yvette Cooper suggested that new prime minister Andy Burnham is better equipped for “a world of social media”.
Sir Keir stepped down as prime minister last month, promising his “full support” to Mr Burnham.
Under Sir Keir’s tenure in Downing Street, Ms Cooper held posts in the cabinet as home secretary and subsequently foreign secretary.