POLL: Should Tories and Labour stand against Nigel Farage in Clacton by-election? | Politics | News
But the main parties, including the Conservatives and Labor, refused to put candidates to the vote and dismissed the byelection as an attempt to deflect attention from the debate over Mr Farage’s finances. This means Mr Farage’s main rival will be comedy candidate Count Binface.
Writing in the Daily Express and denying any wrongdoing in his financial arrangements, the Reform boss said other parties were “terrified” by the vote.
He accused Labor, the media and “the entire establishment” of “doing everything they can to destroy me, my family, the party, our donors and the millions who support us”.
Mr Farage said: “Who should decide who becomes an MP or forms a government in our democracy?
“Should it be the electorate of seats like Clacton? Or should it be the British establishment, through its political agents, media spokespeople and parliamentary committees?”
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Mr Farage was being investigated by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner over whether he should register a £5 million gift from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne, which he said was necessary to fund the security he needed due to the multitude of threats against him.
He also faces questions about the support provided by his friend George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster known as “Posh George”.
New MPs are required to register gifts worth up to £300 they have received in the previous 12 months, unless they are related to their political activities.
