Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has published an open letter addressed to voters in Clacton, arguing that the by-election triggered by Nigel Farage's resignation serves his own interests rather than the constituency's, less than a week before polling day on 13 August.
What the letter says
In the letter, Badenoch tells Clacton residents she understands their frustration with the Conservatives' record in government and apologises for it, but argues that anger at the party is not a reason to be "used by somebody else." She goes on to suggest Farage called the by-election to strengthen his own position ahead of a separate standards investigation, rather than to serve constituents.
Badenoch's letter repeatedly returns to the £5 million gift Farage received from cryptocurrency entrepreneur Christopher Harborne before he took his seat in the Commons, which is the subject of an ongoing inquiry by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. She argues that voters are entitled to know why such a gift was made and what, if anything, was expected in return, and says the standards process should be allowed to conclude before people are asked to judge Farage on it.
She also confirms that the Conservatives will field a "serious candidate" in a second Clacton by-election, should one be triggered later this year by the outcome of the standards investigation, but defends the party's decision not to contest the current contest, framing it as a refusal to legitimise a vote she describes as being about Farage rather than the constituency.
The background
Farage resigned as MP for Clacton last month, prompting the current by-election, which he has cast as a "people versus establishment" contest. His resignation came as scrutiny mounted over the undeclared gift from Harborne, received in 2024 before Farage entered Parliament. The Standards Commissioner's inquiry, examining whether the gift should have been declared, was paused when Farage triggered the vote, but is expected to resume if he is re-elected.
Should that investigation conclude Farage broke the rules and recommend a Commons suspension of more than ten days, it could open the door to a recall petition and a further by-election — the scenario in which Badenoch says the Conservatives would stand a candidate. Farage has said he has not broken any law and has criticised the standards process.
Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and Restore Britain have also chosen not to field candidates in the current contest, with several parties describing it as a stunt. Thirty-four candidates remain on the ballot, including satirical candidate Count Binface, producing what local officials have described as an unusually long ballot paper.
What happens next
Clacton voters go to the polls on Thursday 13 August. Farage is widely expected to retain the seat given the absence of the major parties from the contest. The standards investigation into the Harborne gift is expected to resume once the by-election concludes, with its outcome determining whether a further contest — and, per Badenoch's letter, a Conservative candidate — follows later in the year.
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