Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has published an open letter to voters in Clacton urging them to reject Nigel Farage at Thursday's by-election, while pledging to field a candidate only if the parliamentary standards investigation into the Reform UK leader triggers a second contest.
The 771-word letter, addressed "to the people of Clacton" and published on Thursday, accuses Farage of calling the vote for his own benefit. "Nigel Farage has called this by-election not to help you, but to help himself," Badenoch writes, arguing that the former MP wants to be able to say that "even after the £5 million scandal, Clacton still chose me".
The intervention is unusual because the Conservatives are not standing. Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens have also stood aside, dismissing Farage's resignation as a stunt with no bearing on the inquiry into his financial declarations. That leaves Badenoch campaigning against a candidate she has declined to put up an opponent to — a tension her letter addresses only conditionally.
"When the proper process has run its course and there is a genuine contest, we will be there… someone who turns up, listens, holds meetings and works for the people who live here."
Badenoch, who represents the neighbouring seat of North West Essex, tells voters they are "not pawns in his game" and calls the by-election "needless". Turning to the donation at the centre of the affair, she writes that the £5m "wasn't a lottery win" and that residents are entitled to ask why anyone would give Farage that sum and, "more importantly", what the giver expected in return.
Farage resigned the seat on 8 July, taking the office of Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead, after the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Daniel Greenberg, opened an inquiry on 13 May into a £5m gift from the cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne, received before Farage entered the Commons. The payment did not appear on his register of interests and became public through reporting in April. Farage has denied wrongdoing, describing the money as an "unconditional gift" intended for his security, and has framed the vote as "the people versus the establishment", saying: "The people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions."
He faces separate scrutiny over allegations, reported by the Sunday Times, that he failed to declare security, drivers, staff and accommodation funded by George Cottrell, a former adviser who was jailed in the United States for wire fraud in 2017. A spokesman for Farage called that story "baseless and contrived". The commissioner's work is paused for the duration of the by-election but resumes if Farage returns to Parliament — the scenario on which Badenoch's pledge of a "serious candidate" rests, since a sufficiently long suspension could trigger a recall petition and a further poll.
Reform UK had not responded to the letter at the time of publication.
The ballot paper, roughly a metre long, carries 34 names — believed to be a record for a UK parliamentary election, surpassing the 26 who stood at Haltemprice and Howden in 2008. Among them are:
- Farage, standing for Reform UK
- Count Binface, the novelty candidate now the focus of an anti-Farage tactical voting push
- Laurence Fox for Reclaim, William Clouston for the SDP and three Official Monster Raving Loony candidates
A Survation poll for Mandate Research, of 502 constituents conducted between 16 and 24 July, put Farage on about 73% and Binface on about 20% on a low expected turnout. Forced into a straight choice, respondents split 69% to 31%. Ian Davidson, the acting returning officer at Tendring District Council, has put the cost of the contest at up to £250,000, with part of the bill falling on the authority.
The letter followed Badenoch's remarks on Wednesday ruling out any pact with Reform, which she described as "woke". Polls open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday, with the count expected overnight.
Join the Discussion
Have something to say? Join the conversation!
Sign in to share your thoughts and engage with other readers.
Sign In Create AccountNo comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this article!