Green Party says it has ‘no intention’ of contesting crunch Clacton by-election

The Green Party has become the latest major political party to confirm it will not stand a candidate in the upcoming Clacton by-election.

Nigel Farage resigned as MP for the Essex constituency on Thursday, triggering the by-election amid mounting pressure over revelations surrounding his personal funding ahead of the 2024 General Election.

The Reform UK leader has branded the contest in his seaside constituency "a people versus the establishment by-election".

Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain had already confirmed they would not contest the seat, accusing Mr Farage of attempting to distract from the investigations he faces.

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Now, Zack Polanski's Green Party has confirmed it will also sit out the vote.

Green MP Hannah Spencer announced the decision during an appearance on BBC Newsnight.

She said: "It has been really difficult. We’re a party that does things differently… we do have internal democracy.

“We try to have healthy debates and discussions, and ultimately, we care really deeply about people in Clacton.

“And our local party have decided, as a whole, all of us, that we won’t be standing a candidate in the by-election.”

Mr Polanski had already taken to social media to criticise Mr Farage's decision to resign and trigger the contest.

"This is another stunt from Nigel Farage," he said.

"He knew the grift was going to catch up with him eventually, so he's pulled the trigger instead."

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The Green Party leader added: "Reform exists to maintain wealth and power in this country and then they have the audacity to pretend this is the people versus the establishment."

Mr Farage is under investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over a £5million gift from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne, which he said was needed to fund the security required because of multiple threats against him.

The Reform UK leader has also indicated he is facing a separate investigation over support provided by George Cottrell following a Sunday Times investigation.

Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg's investigation has been suspended following Mr Farage's resignation but will resume if he returns to Parliament.

Should he be found to have breached the rules and suspended for more than 10 sitting days, it could trigger a recall petition, potentially leading to another Clacton by-election.

Mr Farage insists he has done nothing wrong and has accused his Westminster opponents of using sleaze investigations as a "political tool" and the media of "haranguing" his family.

Announcing her party would not contest the seat, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch described it as a "fake by-election that Farage is causing to distract people from what is happening".

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the people of Clacton needed "all the facts" before deciding whether to return Mr Farage as their MP, urging the Government to block his resignation.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Farage of triggering the by-election because he is "up to his neck in sleaze".

"I think the public will see this exactly how it is," the outgoing Prime Minister added.

With every major party now boycotting the contest, Reform UK's leader will, so far, face only one confirmed challenger - Count Binface.

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