Nigel Farage latest: Reform leader insists Count Binface showdown is ‘real’ after by-election ridiculed

A minister said the by-election in Makerfield after an MP stood down to make way for Andy Burnham was “completely and utterly different” to the vote in Clacton triggered by Nigel Farage’s resignation.

It was put to Sir Chris Bryant that some might argue the move was similar to when a by-election was triggered in Makerfield.

He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “Completely and utterly different.”

He added: “Josh Simons stood down in Makerfield because he believed the country needed a change of direction.

“He wasn’t standing himself, it wasn’t some kind of gimmick to try and avoid scrutiny.”

Labour’s leadership race officially begins today – although its winner is close to guaranteed.

Andy Burnham is expected to be the only candidate to put his name forward after former Armed Forces minister Al Carns confirmed he would not run on Wednesday evening.

Any Labour MP who want to put themselves up for the leadership needs to secure the backing of 20 per cent of their colleagues, which is currently 81 MPs.

MPs will fill in a nomination form and deliver it to the Parliamentary Labour Party office in Westminster. Nominations close on Wednesday 15 July at 6pm.

Anyone who has received enough nominations will then need to secure the backing of t least three organisations affiliated with the Labour Party – two of which have to be trade unions – by 6pm Thursday 16 July.

Provided Mr Burnham meets all these requirements, he is expected to become prime minister on Monday 20 July.

The Reform UK leader received the sum from Christopher Harborne in 2024, prior to announcing his decision to stand in the general election and is now being investigated by the Commons standards watchdog.

While he initially said the money was given to pay for his security, he has since described it as a reward for the Brexit campaign and insisted he could spend it on Ferrari cars if he wished to.

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The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

A government minister has said he “wouldn’t bother voting” in the Clacton by election if he lived there

Trade minister Sir Chris Bryant was asked whether he would back Nigel Farage’s only competitor, Count Binface.

“Listen, if I were living in Clacton, I wouldn’t bother voting, and that’s not something I would normally say,” he told the BBC

“But this is, as I say, it’s the worst kind of farce. It’s a farce that hasn’t got any jokes in it at all.”

Asked whether the decision of all major parties to not stand candidates was “indulging in petty politics”, he said: “This is a farce without any jokes in it that Nigel Farage is playing out these next few weeks, and I’m not going to participate in it.”

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

A government minister has accused Nigel Farage of “trying to pretend he’s Donald Trump” by calling a by election in Clacton.

Trade minister Sir Chris Bryant said Labour had decided not to stand a candidate after Mr Farage had a “hissy fit” and added: “I just don’t think that we should play along with that game.”

“I know what Nigel Farage is trying to do,” he told Sky News.

“He’s trying to pretend that he’s Donald Trump, and that they’re all out to get me in for me, in for me, all of that kind of stuff.

“I just don’t think it washes with most ordinary members of the public.”

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

Nigel Farage has insisted the by election he is fighting in Clacton-on-Sea is “real” – despite the only major candidate running against him being a man dressed as a bin.

The Reform UK leader’s bid to trigger a by election on Tuesday backfired massively after all the major parties said they would not stand in the “fake” contest.

The only candidate running against him so far is a ‘joke’ candidate, called Count Binface.

Asked on Thursday if he had considered the possibility of fighting as the only proper candidate, he told the Daily Mail: “No, of course not. Why would they [not contest]? It’s a real election.”

He added: “The fact Labour and the Conservatives don’t want to stand, they’re both showing contempt for the electorate. They can use whatever terms they want – it’s a real election with real people.”

Former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham will be formally declared Labour leader at a special conference on Friday 17 July, if no other candidates come forward.

He is expected to become prime minister three days later.

The Makerfield MP will still take part in an online hustings with Labour MPs on Monday evening, even if he is the only one in the running.

When ex-defence minister Al Carns was asked on Sky News whether he would put himself forward, he said it was clear that a three-month contest was “probably not the best use of Labour’s time”.

“So, my view would be we need to get on board. Andy’s done a good job with Manchester, he’s done a great job during Covid, he’s seen the Manchester Arena attack and dealt with that very effectively, and the economic trajectory of Manchester’s in a positive way.

“If we can do that at the local, the regional level, and the national level, I think that’s hitting the right place.”

The Green Party appears to be split over its defence policy after members called for the party to allow the use of semi-autonomous drones and anti-ballistic missile systems – in what would be a U-turn on current policy.

The business of adjudicating on the rules can’t be outsourced to seaside towns in Essex, writes David Aaronovitch:

For many voters in Clacton, support for their scandal-hit former MP remains unwavering: