Clacton by-election attracts 34 candidates

Image source, Tendring District Council Image caption, The full candidates' list can be seen at Clacton Town Hall, as posted by acting returning officer Ian Davidson, or on Tendring council's website By Katy Prickett Published 8 minutes ago A total of 34 candidates have been confirmed for the Clacton constituency by-election, triggered by the resignation of Nigel Farage. The Reform UK leader resigned as MP on 7 July, following increased scrutiny over his finances and a parliamentary investigation, but is standing again. The list contains 20 independents and a number of joke candidates, including three from the Monster Raving Loony party, with none from the main Westminster parties. Voters will go to the polls on 13 August. It is thought to be the highest number of candidates to stand in a by-election in modern times, according to Tendring District Council. 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 was ignored by the main Westminster parties. Image source, Shaun Whitmore/BBC Image caption, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage will face 33 other candidates hoping to become Clacton's new MP Farage is the only candidate from a Westminster party, after Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party all declined to take part in the contest for the Essex seat. Joke candidate Count Binface and actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox are among his highest-profile opponents. A lengthy Statement of Persons Nominated was posted outside Clacton Town Hall, setting out the full list of candidates. It has also been published on the district council's website. Full list of candidates 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 O'Brien (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) Marc Wilkinson (Independent) Do you have a story suggestion for