NIGEL Farage’s main rivals to his right have ruled out running against Reform in the “sham” by-election triggered in his constituency.
Kemi Badenoch said the Tories would not stand in the "fake" Clacton-on-Sea by-election while Rupert Lowe has announced that his Restore Britain party, a splinter outfit from Farage’s larger organisation, has ruled out standing.
Badenoch said: “We will be standing a candidate in the real by-election, which will follow the standards investigation into Nigel Farage’s fishy finances.
“We will not be standing a candidate in the fake by-election that Farage is causing to distract people from what is happening."
Labour have also confirmed they will not stand, with a spokesperson saying: "Nigel Farage is engulfed in a sleaze scandal and he’s desperately trying to change the subject.
“It’s pathetic, and the Labour Party is not going to indulge it.
“Labour’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee, has decided not to stand a candidate in this circus.
“Instead, Labour will remain focused on delivering for working people and holding Reform to account.
“Farage should let the parliamentary investigation into his finances run its course and face the consequences.”
Farage announced on Tuesday he was quitting Parliament amid a tidal wave of scandal around donations he has taken from wealthy backers, including a convicted fraudster.
But in a nod to the multiple sleaze probes against Farage – which will stay open despite him quitting the Commons – Lowe ruled out a challenge against his former party.
He said: “Restore Britain will stand in the Clacton by-election.
“The second one, held later this year, when the investigations into Farage’s finances conclude as we all suspect they will.
“We are not going to participate in a Reform-sponsored media circus over the summer months that is designed to puff up Farage’s ego and deflect away from wholly fair questions over why he has concealed such vast and irregular financial donations.”
It is not yet clear whether the other main Westminster parties will boycott the by-election, although LibDem leader Ed Davey dismissed it as a “stunt”.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said: “Nigel Farage is once again trying to con the public with this stunt – trying to duck the fact that his history of taking dodgy donations is finally catching up with him.”
A Green Party spokesperson said it was a decision for local members in Clacton whether to put up a candidate “but we are a political party – we contest elections”.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Farage’s announcement was “a desperate stunt” from a man “up to his neck in sleaze”.
And Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed his actions as a “hissy fit”.
She said Farage should “man up and answer some questions” instead of triggering an “ego by-election”.
