Story perspectives

Record 34 Candidates Flood Farage-Triggered Clacton By-Election

7/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Clacton-on-Sea by-election will have 34 candidates, the most ever in a UK parliamentary contest.
Nigel Farage triggered the by-election after resigning, with the vote set for 13 August 2026.
Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Restore Britain declined to field candidates, calling the contest a stunt, while Count Binface and actor Laurence Fox also entered.
Tendring District Council allocated ballots to 51 polling stations for nearly 80,000 voters, confirming the race’s scale.

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Story summary

The Clacton-on-Sea by-election will have 34 candidates, the most ever in a UK parliamentary contest.
Nigel Farage triggered the by-election after resigning, with the vote set for 13 August 2026.
Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Restore Britain declined to field candidates, calling the contest a stunt, while Count Binface and actor Laurence Fox also entered.
Tendring District Council allocated ballots to 51 polling stations for nearly 80,000 voters, confirming the race’s scale.