The boycott by Britain's major parties has failed to deter a record number of candidates from entering the contest
The full list of candidates standing in next month's Clacton by-election has been confirmed as voters prepare to head to the polls in just a matter of weeks.
The contest was triggered after Nigel Farage resigned as MP for the Essex constituency amid revelations surrounding his personal funding ahead of the 2024 General Election, including a £5million gift from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne.
Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain had already confirmed they would not contest the seat, accusing Mr Farage of attempting to distract from the investigations he faces.
Despite the boycott by Britain's major political parties, a record 34 candidates have entered the race for what the Reform UK leader has described as a "people versus the establishment" by-election.
According to Tendring District Council, it is the highest number of candidates ever to contest a parliamentary by-election in modern times.
The figure eclipses the previous record of 26 candidates, set at the Haltemprice and Howden by-election in July 2008 after Sir David Davis resigned as Conservative MP.
Like the upcoming Clacton contest, Sir David's by-election - which he went on to win - was boycotted by the other major Westminster parties.
The record-breaking list of candidates was posted outside Clacton Town Hall by acting returning officer Ian Davidson.
Speaking from Reform UK's Westminster headquarters as he announced his resignation, Mr Farage said: “Now I’ve decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions.
“This will be a people versus the establishment by-election. It’s a chance to stick two fingers up to the entire establishment, to frankly tell them where to go.
"And that is why I will be putting my name forward in this by-election. I will fight to win, I will fight to continue the political revolution that Reform has started.
“And I would say this to you the voters of Clacton. If I win, you win."
"Because if I lose, they win, and we will never, with the two old parties, get the fundamental kind of change that we need to fix broken Britain."
The Reform UK leader stormed to victory in the coastal constituency at the 2024 General Election, securing a majority of 8,405.
However, his decision to resign and trigger a by-election has drawn fierce criticism from political opponents, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accusing Mr Farage of throwing a "hissy fit" to "avoid scrutiny".
Incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham added: “This is a gimmick designed to distract from serious allegations about Farage’s funders."
