Clacton by-election
A total of 34 candidates have been confirmed for the Clacton by-election, set for 13 August. Tendring District Council said it is believed to be a record for a parliamentary contest. The previous record is understood to have been 26 candidates, set at the Haltemprice and Howden by-election in July 2008, which was triggered by Tory Sir David Davis in his own seat and similarly ignored by the main Westminster parties. The current contest was triggered by the resignation of Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, on 7 July, following increased scrutiny over his finances and a parliamentary investigation, though he is standing again as a candidate.
The Clacton by-election, triggered by Nigel Farage’s resignation as MP, has drawn 34 candidates, including 20 independents and three from the Official Monster Raving Loony Party. Tendring District Council confirmed the figure, noting it is believed to be a record for a parliamentary contest. The candidates for the Clacton constituency are: Joseph 77 (Independent), Adham Alkhatip (The Forward Party), Count Binface (Count Binface Party), Nick The Incredible Flying Brick (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party), Tony Cane (Independent), Woke Trump Carrzee (Independent), William Stuart James Clouston (Social Democratic Party), Rees Cowne (Independent), Glenn Charles Cummings (Independent), Martin Davies (Freedom Alliance – Real People, Real Alternative!), Andy Erlam (Independent), Nigel Farage (Reform UK), Attieh Fard (Independent), Laurence Fox (The Reclaim Party), Tony Francis (Independent), Robin Green (Independent), Abi Hookway (Independent), Howling Laud Hope (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party), Stephen Richard Ingram (Independent), Amy Morris (Independent), Derrick Norbert Morris (Independent), Michael Noel O’Keeffe (Independent), Martyn OBrien (Independent), Nick Pelas (Independent), Ketankumar Pipaliya (UK VOICE safer and stronger UK), Daniel Pocock (Independent), James Ransley (Consensus Party Candidate), Gerry Smith (Independent), Kai Stephens (British Democrats), John Stevens (Rejoin EU), Baron Von Thunderclap (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party), Pamela Walford (Independent), Marcus White (Everyone is God Party), and Marc Wilkinson (Independent).
Official Monster Raving Loony Party
The main Westminster parties are boycotting the Clacton by-election, dismissing it as a stunt by the Reform UK leader, who sought a people versus the establishment
showdown. The boycott mirrors the 2008 by-election, where the main parties also ignored the contest after Davis’s resignation. The Official Monster Raving Loony Party contributed three candidates: Nick The Incredible Flying Brick, Howling Laud Hope, and Baron Von Thunderclap. No main Westminster parties are fielding candidates.
Gorton & Denton by-election
Betting markets suggest heightened interest in the Gorton & Denton by-election, with Reform UK and the Green Party gaining notable backing, according to bookmaker data. Reform has attracted 38% of bets placed during that period, despite its odds drifting from 5/2 to 3/1, which may reflect betting sentiment rather than direct voter support. Political commentator Matt Goodwin, who is associated with the party’s campaign messaging, has also observed market movement in line with the party’s position. Meanwhile, the Green Party of England and Wales continues to draw significant support from bettors. The Greens account for 34% of bets placed in the last hour, and candidate Hannah Spencer has been priced as short as 1/2 with one bookmaker to win the Greater Manchester constituency. Labour is defending a long-held seat, with support remaining steady. Labour’s odds have shortened slightly overnight, moving from 5/1 to 4/1, indicating some renewed confidence among bettors, although the party remains behind the Greens in the latest market pricing.
Tendring District Council emphasized that the 34 candidates represent a record for a parliamentary contest, surpassing the 26 candidates in the 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election.
The by-election has drawn attention for its mix of candidates. The Official Monster Raving Loony Party’s participation, alongside independents, highlights the contest’s nature. Count Binface and Laurence Fox are among the Reform UK leader’s highest-profile opponents.
The candidate list includes 20 independents and a number of joke candidates, as confirmed by Tendring District Council. Meanwhile, the Gorton & Denton by-election, though separate, has seen over 76,000 voters head to the polls, according to Oddschecker spokesman Chris Rogers.
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party (UK) has held the Gorton & Denton constituency since 1935, making it one of the party’s long-standing strongholds. This historical context provides a contrast to the Clacton by-election, where no major party is fielding candidates.
Tendring District Council’s confirmation of 34 candidates for the Clacton by-election highlights the event’s scale. The council’s statement emphasizes that the previous record of 26 candidates was set in the 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election. As voters prepare to cast their ballots on 13 August, the by-election stands as a unique contest.
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