Today17:11 BST'Complete charlatan' Farage 'run into a col-de-sac', Starmer saysThe Mirror's Political Editor Lizzy Buchan writes in from the Nato summit...Keir Starmer said Nigel Farage had “run into a cul-de-sac” as his by-election plan has left him exposed as a “complete charlatan”.Speaking to reporters at the Nato summit, Mr Starmer said: “He's been utterly exposed over the last 24 hours with this desperate measure.“We know why he's done it. He's absolutely up to his neck in sleaze.“He doesn't want to answer questions from any of you or in Parliament, because he can't answer those questions. He runs away from those questions, but he's run into a cul-de-sac.“He's run absolutely nowhere, because he's now utterly exposed, and it's right, I think, that all the major parties are not running candidates, and as I say, he's been, I think, utterly exposed by this as a complete charlatan.”The PM said Labour should stand a candidate if Nigel Farage is forced into a second by-election by Parliament’s sleaze watchdog.Asked if he’d endorse Count Binface, he said: “I think it's actually against Labour Party rules to endorse another…..Poor old binface - I gave him a bit of a doing over at PMQs last week, so I better not go any further down that road.”Today16:45 BSTReform proposes August 6 byelectionReform UK has confirmed that it will move the writ on Thursday morning, and propose a by-election on August 6, less than a month away.A spokesperson said: “Reform UK will move the writ tomorrow morning, and we are proposing a by-election on 6 August.”Today16:43 BSTAndrew Bailey confirms Farage lobbied him on cryptocurrencies during 2025 meetingAndrew Bailey has confirmed in a letter today that Farage "made his views… very clear" on cryptocurrencies during a meeting at the Bank of England last year.Content cannot be displayed without consentToday16:38 BSTRachel Reeves accepts Farage Steward and Bailiff request so he can 'spend the summer arguing with a bin'Confirming that she would accept Farage's request to be appointed Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead - a required appointment for every resigning MP - she said she accepted so he could "spend the summer arguing with a bin".She wrote on social media: "I will accept Nigel Farage’s request to be appointed Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead. It is a farce and a desperate distraction, and the people of Clacton deserve better. But if he wants to spend the summer arguing with a bin, I won’t stop him."The "bin" in question is Count Binface, the ever-present independent campaigner who also faced-off against Andy Burnham in Makerfield and Boris Johnson in Uxbridge and South Ruislip.London mayoral candidate Count Binface poses for a photo on College Green beside the Palace of Westminster in London on April 25, 2024. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP) (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images)Today15:58 BSTStarmer: Trump has not raise concerns about UK defence spendingUS President Donald Trump did not raise concerns over UK defence spending with Keir Starmer at the Nato summit.The Prime Minister has said the pair had no discussion over the matter when they met in Turkey.The PM said: “Let me just share with you the closing words of President Trump, because as Mark Rutte closed the meeting, he turned back to Donald Trump, who thanked everybody there for the spirit of the meeting and the unity of the meeting.“Mark Rutte thanked us particularly for the Dip further investment, and I had no discussion with Donald Trump in which he made any issue with me in relation to the defence spending for the United Kingdom.”World leaders gathered in the Turkish capital(Image: Getty Images)Today15:46 BSTMOJ statement on Ruth Ellis pardonThe Ministry of Justice has issued a statement following the conditional pardon for Ruth Ellis.David Lammy confirmed during PMQs that the King has confirmed the government's advice to grant a conditional pardon posthumously.“The application for a pardon was brought by four of Ruth Ellis’s grandchildren,” the MOJ said this afternoon. “The application presented that her responsibility was profoundly shaped by domestic abuse, trauma and circumstances that were never properly recognised at her trial.“Under modern law, it is possible that Ruth Ellis could have argued the partial defences of loss of control or diminished responsibility applied to her – defences that might have reduced her conviction from murder to manslaughter, and which could have been considered by a jury had the case been heard today.“As the last woman to be hanged in the United Kingdom, Ruth Ellis’s sentence is an exceptional case – and replacing it with one of life imprisonment takes into account the historic injustice of the death penalty in this particular instance. The government hopes today’s decision brings a measure of peace to her family.”Ruth Ellis' grandchildren have welcomed the news(Image: Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA Wire)Today15:34 BSTIt's official: Nigel Farage is no longer MP for ClactonThe Treasury has announced that Nigel Farage is officially no longer an MP for Clacton.The Reform UK leader yesterday resigned as MP for Clacton, triggering a by-election which he says he will stand in.In the traditional way, the Treasury announced the news in a press release headlined “Manor of Northstead".It read: “The Chancellor of the Exchequer has this day appointed Nigel Paul Farage to be Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead."A placard with a message for Clacton(Image: Vuk Valcic/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)Today15:11 BSTFarage: I'm being painted as being a crookNigel Farage has blamed a political party pile on for painting him “like a crook”.The Reform UK leader again stressed he has done nothing wrong this afternoon and he hit the campaign trail.“Number one, I have nothing to apologise for at all,” he told broadcasters in Clacton. "I haven't broken the law in any way at all."It now would appear from the media pile on that I'm guilty of virtually everything. I'm being painted out to the people in this constituency, frankly, as being a crook."Well I'll tell you what, I don't think Sky News or anybody else should be my judge. I think the voters here in Clacton should have that opportunity."And as for the other parties, you know the Conservatives got over 30,000 votes here in 2019. They don't want to stand. Well, you know why? Because they'd lose and lose badly."Nigel Farage hit the streets today(Image: Getty Images)Today14:51 BSTCount Binface takes a poke at Robert JenrickRobert Jenrick wouldn't be welcome in the Count Binface Party - even if he wanted to join.The novelty candidate said on X: "I can neither confirm nor deny that Robert Jenrick has asked to defect to the Count Binface Party."But he went on: "I can confirm that the answer's no."Today14:34 BSTMIKEY SMITH: Farage might have taken a bigger gamble than he thinksNigel Farage has taken a big risk in forcing a by-election in Clacton.He's got a lot of supporters - but it's getting harder to find fans who will defend him through thick, thin and months of turning their town into a circus.After visiting the seaside town yesterday, I'm not as confident as he appears to be that he'll be returned to Parliament on a wave of sympathy.Here’s why their loyalty seemed subject to review.The waters look choppy for Nigel Farage(Image: Getty Images)Today14:18 BSTWho is Count Binface? Meet the comedian hoping to beat Farage in ClactonAfter dropping the bombshell yesterday afternoon that he would resign as an MP to trigger a by-election in Clacton-on-Sea, Nigel Farage has now been left with pretty much just one opponent - Count Binface. Major political parties have slammed Farage's move a 'farce', with many saying they will not be putting forward a candidate for the by-election. But that hasn't stopped Count Binface.The satirical candidate has now been given a national platform after Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain all said they will not put candidates forward. But who is Count Binface? The Mirror has taken a peek behind the bin, to see who Farage is up against, and what his vision is for Clacton.Behind galactic backdrops, and something that resmbles a costume from Dr Who to many, is Jonathan David Harvey - a British comedian, satirist and producer. He has worked on hits such as The Thick of It and Have I Got News For You. The passionate Spurs fan penned a book in 2023 titled 'A Fan for All Seasons: A Journey Through Life' about the loss of his older brother, and their connection through sport. Read our full profile on Count Binface below.Meet real Count Binface - the comedian candidate hoping to beat establishment Nigel Farage in ClactonCount Binface speaks to reporters(Image: Getty Images)Today14:06 BSTReeves 'will accept' Farage resignation as she makes brutal Binface jibeChancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed that she will accept Nigel Farage's resignation as an MP - but even she couldn't resist getting in on the Count Binface jokes. The update was shared in a post on X by the Chancellor, who is the person who grants MPs permission to resign from the Commons, thereby triggering an election."I will accept Nigel Farage's request to be appointed Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead. It is a farce and a desperate distraction, and the people of Clacton deserve better," she wrote. She concluded her post with a dig at the fact that currently, Farage's only opposition is Count Binface, writing: "But if he wants to spend the summer arguing with a bin, I won't stop him."Today13:56 BSTAndy Burnham joins trolling with Count Binface postContent cannot be displayed without consentToday13:36 BSTBadenoch: Count Binface the 'people's candidate'Kemi Badenoch believes Count Binface is now the 'people's candidate' in Clacton.The Tory leader told Sky News: “The people of Clacton, and the Conservatives in particular, are very sensible. They will do what they know to be right. It’s not for me to be getting involved in that.“Let’s see what kind of campaign Count Binface runs, and who the establishment really is – if it’s the people versus the establishment, I think Nigel Farage might be looking like the establishment, and Count Binface may be the people. So the whole thing is a farce.”Count Binface with the Count Binface Party(Image: Getty Images)Today13:27 BSTMartin Lewis responds to claims he plans to rival Nigel FarageMartin Lewis is going to stick to saving people money - and not save Clacton from Nigel Farage.He has taken to X to dismiss speculation that he could run as a unity candidate in the by-electionIt’s safe to say the TV money-saving guru isn’t keen on standing, saying a “month-long un-anesthetised root canal” would be preferable to entering the race.Content cannot be displayed without consentToday13:10 BSTRuth Ellis granted conditional pardon by the King, Lammy announcesLabour MP Pam Cox asks the deputy prime minister about Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in the UK back in 1955 after being convicted for the murder of her abusive lover.She had suffered physical, sexual, and emotional abuse at the hands of her partner, David Blakely.She was arrested after shooting him, and was hanged three months later."Her case serves as a haunting reminder of a time when our justice system ignored the realities of domestic abuse and coercive control," Cox says.In his response, David Lammy confirmed that the King accepted the government's advice to grant a conditional pardon posthumously."While the pardon does not claim she was innocent of killing David Blakely, it replaces the death penalty with a sentence of life imprisonment to recognise a profound injustice in this exceptional case," he said."We hope this brings a measure of peace to Ruth Ellis' family, who have carried the weight of what happened to her for over 70 years.”Read the full story hereDavid Blakely was shot by Ruth Ellis(Image: Bettmann Archive)Today12:49 BSTWATCH: Daisy Cooper says the Government must delay Farage's by-electionDaisy Cooper asked the Government to postpone Nigel Farage's by-election and told MPs “leave means leave.”The Lib Dem deputy leader asked the Chancellor to delay his resignation until the investigation into his conduct is complete.Farage is being probed over an undeclared £5m gift from a crypto billionaire.David Lammy responded: "It's the people vs establishment. A city trader, Putin-admiring professional politician who is pals with crypto billionaires... vs Count Binface.”Content cannot be displayed without consentToday12:40 BSTLammy lays into the Green Party over 'coconuts' commentMirror Political Correspondent Sophie Huskisson here…David Lammy hit out at the Green Party after one of their councillors having called him and Dame Priti Patel “coconuts”.Dr Ellie Chowns asks a question about faith in politics and calls for the Government to support a proportional representation voting system. “Our politics needs fixing fast,” she says. “The broken, outdated first past the post system has clearly failed to deliver stable government.”Mr Lammy responds: “I'm very pleased that she raises the issue of votes and democracies. But I've got to say this to the Greens: During the local elections, a green councillor in Lewisham described me and the shadow foreign secretary (Dame Priti Patel) as coconuts.“Her party looked the other way, kept their candidate in post and have rewarded that candidate with a council job. I'm not making this up. The cabinet member for healing. The Greens could start a healing process by stopping such racist language.”Hau-Yu Tam, a Green councillor in Lewisham, came under fire during the local elections amid claims she called Dame Priti and Mr Lammy “conconuts” - a racist term used to describe ethnic monitory people who are perceived to have sold out their cultural identity and acts like a white person. The Evening Standard reported she has since been handed a job in charge of “community healing” in Lewisham Council.David Lammy at the the House of Commons(Image: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire)Today12:31 BSTWhere is the Prime Minister?Deputy PM David Lammy is standing in at Prime Minister’s Questions this afternoon.That’s because Keir Starmer is at a NATO summit in Turkey.A dozen countries, including the UK, are set to spend more than £37bn over the next 10 years on a new long-range missile to protect Europe, it has been announced.Keir Starmer is at the summit at Bestepe Presidential Compound in Turkey(Image: AFP via Getty Images)Today12:28 BSTNigel Farage mocked over by-election plansMirror Assistant Political Editor Alexander Brown here…Lib Dem Daisy Cooper jokes that Nigel Farage used to think "leave means leave", but now wants to leave the Commons for "another referendum on his behaviour".She said: "It seems it seems his latest stunt is to leave this place just so that he can return as a fully fledged member after not just one referendum on his behavior, Mr. Speaker, but possibly two."The Lib Dems are calling for a by-election to be blocked until the investigation into Mr Farage concludes.Mr Lammy responded: "Everyone can see that the Reform leader is just trying to distract from the fact that he's up to his neck in sleze. He's got serious questions to answer and he can't run away from them. Labour isn't going to be part of this circus."I hear it's 'the people versus the establishment'. The city trader, Putin admiring professional politician who's pals with crypto billionaires versus Count BinFace."Today12:20 BSTDavid Lammy stands in for Keir Starmer at PMQsMirror Political Correspondent Sophie Huskisson here…Deputy PM David Lammy is standing in for Keir Starmer, who is in Ankara, Turkey, for the Nato summit - his final trip as Prime Minister.In likely his last Deputy PMQs, Mr Lammy is up against Tory MP James Cleverly, who stands in for Kemi Badenoch. Mr Cleverly asks about Labour’s early release prison scheme.The Deputy PM - who is also the Justice Secretary - is pretty furious at this question. Prisons overcrowding was one of the first crises Labour picked up when they won the 2024 general election. The Tories left jails space at record low levels, with free cells at fewer than 100 at one point.He tells Mr Cleverly his attacks are “rich” coming from a Tory. “They left a system with just 83 empty cells. That's what the justice secretary previous to me (Shabana Mahmood) inherited when she came into office. That's why we had to pass the sentencing scheme. He hasn't said what they would do now to fix the system.”Mr Cleverly’s criticism relates to the Sentencing Act, which was passed by Labour earlier this year and will mean some prisoners serving time for some violent or sexual offences will become eligible for release halfway through their sentences, rather than serving the current tariff of two-thirds. Early release will depend on good behaviour in jails. Part of the Act will kick in from September, meaning some criminals who were already sentenced will be released earlier than a judge intended.The issue is likely to get lots of attention as we approach September. PM-in-waiting Andy Burnham is understood to be alarmed over the plans and is considering changes to sentencing reforms.Today11:52 BSTFarage is 'epitome of the establishment', Corbyn saysJeremy Corbyn has blasted Nigel Farage's claims that the by-election he has triggered in Clacton is a "people versus the establishment" vote.In a scathing post on X, Corbyn wrote: "Nigel Farage is the epitome of the establishment. He makes millions at the expense of the poorest, while blaming the most vulnerable to protect his wealth and power."We cannot afford a society that feeds the expensive ego of Nigel Farage. Clacton deserves better."Today11:49 BSTFarage pocketed £2 million from 'second jobs' since the election, analysis showsNigel Farage has earned just over £2 million from 'second jobs' since the election, according to Mirror analysis of the Register of Members Financial Interests.That includes over £723,000 from GB News where he works as a presenter.He's also earned over £685,000 as a brand ambassador for Direct Bullion, a gold trading company. That job involved just 16 hours of work, working out at a rate of nearly £43,000 an hour.For most of this Parliament he has been the highest earning MP, but in the last couple of months he was overtaken by ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.You can see a full breakdown of the income he has declared here:Today11:42 BSTKeir Starmer absent from PMQs, with David Lammy to face questions from MPsThe prime minister will not be present at his penultimate PMQs as he is at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy will instead stand in for Keir Starmer and will be facing shadow housing secretary James Cleverly and other MPs.Starmer announced last month that he will step down as PM, with Andy Burnham set to take over with no other Labour MPs throwing their hat into the ring.Potential candidates have until July 15 to gather the support of 81 MPs, but if only one candidate puts themselves forward then the leader could be announced as early as July 17.This means Starmer's last PMQs as prime minister are set to be next week, on July 15.Today11:28 BSTBurnham teases Farage over Count Binface by-election clashContent cannot be displayed without consentToday11:20 BSTGreen party will not stand in ClactonZack Polanski dubbed Farage as "the epitome of everything that's wrong with British politics" while confirming the Greens will follow the lead of other political parties.Labour, the Tories, the Lib Dems and Restore have all ruled out standing a candidate in the Clacton by-election triggered by Farage's resignation.In a X post, Polanski wrote: "Farage is the epitome of everything that's wrong with British politics - backed by big money and Donald Trump and stoking division in our communities." He added that the party "won't stand" in the "stunt election".Today10:58 BSTEd Davey calls on Government to stop Farage's 'cynical ploy'The leader of the Liberal Democrats has urged Rachel Reeves to step in and stop Nigel Farage's attempt to trigger a by-election.Ed Davey posted a letter written to the Chancellor on X with the caption: "The Chancellor has the power to stop Farage's cynical ploy. I've written to her this morning urging her to act."Farage should not be allowed to resign until the investigation into his dodgy dealings has concluded. The people of Clacton deserve the facts first."Davey, in the letter, wrote: "His cynical ploy cannot come to pass. You have the power to stop Farage's deception, and make him wait for the investigation to complete before he can resign. Use it."Content cannot be displayed without consentToday10:42 BSTPublic opposes Farage decision to call by-election, poll suggestsA YouGov poll has suggested the public opposes the Reform leaders decision to trigger a by-election in Clacton by 43% to 24%.The research found 32% of people strongly opposed Farage's move and 11% somewhat opposed the decision.This compared to just 11% who strongly supported Farage's by-election and 13% of the public who somewhat support the move.YouGov's findings were based on responses from 7,744 adults in Great Britain.Public oppose Farage calling election by 43% to 24%, poll suggests(Image: YouGov)Today10:25 BSTCabinet Minister sends well wishes to Count Binface amid Farage 'circus'Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis hit out at Nigel Farage for his "stunt", but wished his singular opponent so far in the by-election good luck.Only Count Binface, a comedian, has confirmed they will run against Farage after his resignation prompted a by-election. Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and Restore have all said they will not stand in the election.Jarvis said: "This is clearly a stunt from Nigel [Farage] trying to get in front of the concerns that have been expressed about him accepting £5m We'll see what the standards commissioner rules."My sense is he understands the strength of feeling, which I've actually, interestingly, felt bottom up in my constituency. I think he senses that he is in real trouble and has taken action to try and get in front of that."I don’t think that has played out particularly well for him. I don’t think it’s been well-received. I've had some quite interesting feedback from my constituents that this is just a complete circus and a complete waste of time. Looks like Count Binface will be sort of stepping forward, and good luck to him."Today09:55 BSTBinface's war cryCount Binface has just appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain from his home in outer space, and claimed "the underdog can prevail" in the Clacton-on-Sea by-election.Binface will likely be the only person taking on Farage in the Reform leader's stupid vanity project, aside from any independent candidates.The Count also said that he could save the British taxpayer up to £380,000 on a second by-election if he beats Farage this time around."If there's a second by-election when parliament finds out that Nigel has done something abitt iffy - if they do, who knows? - then of course, there will another byelection which costs 380-grand to the British taxpayer."So, if they vote me in, I save you lot 380,000 Earth pounds without lifting a space finger."Count Binface appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain this morning(Image: ITV)‌