The Clacton By-Election: Farage Vs The Establishment?

Clacton high street. The weekend before the by-election on August 13th. By noon, the town centre was filled with Clacton residents, tourists, campaigners and the sun was high in the sky. Despite recent turmoil, I was struck by how vibrant the atmosphere was. Two women stood in the town centre, wearing capes and bins on their heads, handing out Count Binface stickers to passersby. Yet this time, Count Binface is the main opposition to the incumbent MP, rather than a fringe comedic relief figure.

This by-election was prompted by Nigel Farage's resignation as MP for Clacton on 7 July, following scrutiny over a £5 million undeclared donation he received just before the 2024 general election. He will run as the Reform UK candidate again, declaring that the people of Clacton should decide his fate, rather than the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, who launched an investigation into what he claims was simply a 'personal gift' to cover security costs and why he failed to declare it. When I spoke to campaigners from Stop Reform UK in Clacton, they were concerned that the recent murder of Ann Widdecombe may make voters more sympathetic to his claim, with Farage himself citing her murder as an example of the political violence he needs the money to protect himself from. However, last year Farage turned down an offer of state-funded security, including a bodyguard, a car and trained driver, which he deemed 'inadequate', leaving questions over why he now says he needed the donation for his protection.

Farage’s ‘gift’

The source of the £5 million 'gift' was Thailand-based crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne. MPs are allowed to receive gifts from donors, but they must declare them, along with any other financial interests which "might reasonably be thought to influence their actions, speeches or votes in Parliament". This is debatable, as Farage maintains the money was simply a gift with no strings attached to cover the costs of personal security. However, Harborne himself appeared to contradict this when asked about the donation, saying it was "because of my great admiration for the decades of work he had done to achieve Brexit". Critics maintain that such a large sum could give Harborne undue influence over Farage and Reform UK. 38 Degrees polling revealed that 68% of the public believe Harborne's donation could give him inappropriate influence over Farage's political decisions and priorities. As a man who could potentially become Britain's next Prime Minister, many are questioning the validity of Farage's claim that the donation "wasn't political whatsoever".

In light of the investigation and mounting media scrutiny, Farage has framed this election as a battle between him and the 'establishment'. Count Binface is certainly an unlikely establishment figurehead, yet the intergalactic space lord is Farage's main contender after all the mainstream parties opted not to put up candidates. Party leaders have dismissed the election as a farce and political spectacle, refusing to participate and avoiding further fuelling Farage's rhetoric that the establishment is out to get him. Polling has Farage winning around 73% of the vote, with Binface projected to gain at least 20%. While Farage is still expected to win comfortably, a strong showing from Binface could leave him with egg on his face. He will certainly be hoping to avoid being pictured next to the man with a bin on his head when all 34 candidates stand together as the results are announced on Thursday.

Farage’s opponents

Count Binface, real name Jonathan David Harvey, has contested elections as a novelty candidate since 2019, when he stood against Boris Johnson in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency. He also stood in the 2021 and 2024 London mayoral elections. His policies include making 99 Ice creams 99p and using Labour's 2024 manifestos to fill potholes as well as spending more time in Clacton than Washington, after criticism that Farage spends more time abroad than in his constituency. Other candidates include, Laurence Fox running for Reclaim, a far-right, 'anti-woke' party, Howling Laud Hope of the Monster Raving Loony Party, 20 independents and many more. Clacton is hosting the most candidates for a by-election in British history, with the ballot paper expected to be about a meter long. For voters, choosing their next MP will mean wading through a ballot paper almost as uniquely bizarre as the election itself.

What does this mean for Clacton?

Clacton is a coastal constituency in Essex with a predominantly retired population and long-standing economic challenges. Parts of the constituency, particularly Jaywick, experience some of the highest levels of deprivation in England, while Clacton has among the highest rates of economic inactivity in the country. These pressures have fuelled frustration over stagnant local economies, unemployment and the state of public services, alongside strong concerns about immigration. Clacton has consequently become a significant political stronghold for the populist right, with Nigel Farage winning the seat for Reform UK in 2024 with a majority of more than 8,000. Against this backdrop of economic insecurity and political disillusionment, the upcoming by-election offers an important test of whether Reform's support in Clacton can withstand the controversies surrounding Farage in recent months.

The response in Clacton has been varied. Some Farage supporters remain firmly behind him. While speaking with Stop Reform UK campaigners, I overheard several people walking past saying, 'No, we want Reform UK!' and 'Sorry, we still like him'. However, I also spoke to a number of residents who expressed dissatisfaction with Farage and questioned the need for the by-election in the first place. Vicky, who has lived in Clacton since 1990, called it "a bit of a farce", saying, "There's no need for this by-election. He's just trying to wiggle out of whatever he's trying to wiggle out of. It's a terrible waste of money." Predictions by The Independent put the cost at £275,046. She also expressed frustration at the division in society and what she sees as the normalisation of racism since Brexit, "We need to put that back in the cupboard." She said she is "1000%" behind Binface and even helped collect signatures to get him nominated.

Terry, another Clacton resident I spoke with, echoed similar concerns about the growing "divide in people". He told me he hasn't voted for 20 years but feels strongly about voting this time. "I'm thinking I would like to vote, if only for Binface," he said, although he admitted, "I know Binface is offering 99p ice creams but I don't know any more than that." He wants to look more closely at the policies of the other candidates. Fundamentally, he said, "I'm beyond angry at the injustice served on the 98% of the world's population by the 2%." He is frustrated by Farage's attempts to present himself as an outsider: "He's not one of the working-class people who struggle here on a daily basis." He continued, "It's hypocrisy, coming in saying 'I'm going to rescue you, it's us vs the establishment'. When really, you've been caught out not declaring your donation." For Terry, the controversy is not just about Farage's donation, but about who gets to claim to speak for the people in his community.

After the by-election

Farage's victory would ultimately not bring the controversy to an end. The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner's investigation into the £5 million gift is currently suspended following his resignation, but Parliament's rules mean it can resume if he is re-elected. If the investigation ultimately finds that he breached the rules, the consequences could range from an apology to the House to a suspension of 10 days or more, which could trigger a recall petition and potentially another by-election. A victory in Clacton would therefore give Farage a renewed electoral mandate, but it would not settle the question of whether he broke parliamentary rules. For the residents I spoke to, however, the issue seemed to extend beyond the donation itself: it was about whether Farage was genuinely representing the people of Clacton, and whether this by-election was really about them at all. As a first-time visitor, it was clear to me from the outset that the town itself is as unique as the by-election itself. Unfortunately, when the campaign posters come down and headlines move on, the people of Clacton will be left with the same problems as before. As Vicky and Terry told me, Clacton needs someone who cares, someone to be present. Whoever wins on Thursday must be prepared to deliver on the change the constituency needs.