Polls close shortly in the Clacton by-election as Nigel Farage attempts to retain his seat in a highly unusual contest. The Reform UK leader smiled and shook hands with voters on Thursday morning, appearing confident and cheerful despite the fact that nearly all major parties have boycotted the election. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch described it as “fake” while Sir Keir Starmer called it “a desperate political stunt”, leaving Count Binface – a satirical character who has pledged to abolish VAR in football and “nationalise Adele” – as his main rival.Thursday’s by-election was triggered after Mr Farage resigned amid scrutiny over his finances.Voters will have until 10pm to cast their ballots, with counting taking place overnight, with the results expected on Friday morning.It comes as Labour have over taken Reform in a series of polls with Mr Farage's party struggling following a series of scandals, including questions about a £5m donation he received from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne and gifts from a convicted criminal, George Cottrell. Investigation into Farage will resume if he wins seatBefore quitting Westminster, Nigel Farage was being investigated by the parliamentary standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg over a £5 million gift from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne, which he received before taking his seat in the Commons.Under Commons rules, new MPs are required to register any gifts worth more than £300 they received in the previous 12 months, except where the gift “could not be reasonably thought by others” to relate to their political activities.That investigation was paused when Mr Farage resigned his seat but will resume if he wins the by-election – as bookmakers have made him the firm favourite to do.Mr Farage could also face an investigation over support provided by George Cottrell, a long-term ally.Mr Cottrell reportedly recruited and paid three staff to work on Mr Farage’s social media before the general election, and has continued to allow him to use a five-storey Georgian property he rented near Buckingham Palace.Maryam Zakir-Hussain13 August 2026 20:00The tiny village of Piddington that’s voted to leave the UKA quaint village in Oxfordshire has staged a referendum where they have voted to leave the United Kingdom - over concerns about a nearby military site being used to house asylum seekers.The Home Office is considering using the Bicester barracks to house 1,250 people, but this has been met with fierce opposition from the 350 local residents of Piddington.Maryam Zakir-Hussain13 August 2026 19:30Reform councillor suspended over social media posts calling for Commons speaker to be hangedA Reform councillor has been suspended after resurfaced social media posts appeared to show him calling for the Commons speaker to be hanged.In response to a post about then Commons speaker John Bercow, an account linked to Kirklees councillor David Rowan wrote on social media in October 2019: “Hang the Dwarf”.In another post, which has not yet been deleted, the account also made homophobic comments, having said he doesn’t believe “gays should have kids full stop”.A Reform UK spokesperson said: “Cllr Rowan has been suspended from Reform UK pending investigation.”Maryam Zakir-Hussain13 August 2026 19:00The strange and surprisingly moving story behind Count Binface, the man taking on FarageKatie Rosseinsky takes a look at the man behind the mask:Maryam Zakir-Hussain13 August 2026 18:30Full list of candidates for the Clacton constituencyHere are all 34 candidates: Joseph 77 (Independent) Adham Alkhatip (The Forward Party) Count Binface (Count Binface Party) Nick The Incredible Flying Brick (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party) Tony Cane (Independent) Woke Trump Carrzee (Independent) William Stuart James Clouston (Social Democratic Party) Rees Cowne (Independent) Glenn Charles Cummings (Independent) Martin Davies (Freedom Alliance – Real People, Real Alternative!) Andy Erlam (Independent) Nigel Farage (Reform UK) Attieh Fard (Independent) Laurence Fox (The Reclaim Party) Tony Francis (Independent) Robin Green (Independent) Abi Hookway (Independent) Howling Laud Hope (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party) Stephen Richard Ingram (Independent) Amy Morris (Independent) Derrick Norbert Morris (Independent) Michael Noel O’Keeffe (Independent) Martyn OBrien (Independent) Nick Pelas (Independent) Ketankumar Pipaliya (UK VOICE safer and stronger UK) Daniel Pocock (Independent) James Ransley (Consensus Party Candidate) Gerry Smith (Independent) Kai Stephens (British Democrats) John Stevens (Rejoin EU) Baron Von Thunderclap (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party) Pamela Walford (Independent) Marcus White (Everyone is God Party) Marc Wilkinson (Independent) Maryam Zakir-Hussain13 August 2026 18:00Pictures from Clacton today(Reuters)(Getty)(PA)Maryam Zakir-Hussain13 August 2026 17:30What time will the Clacton by-election result be announced?The result is expected to be announced in the early hours of Friday.(Getty)Maryam Zakir-Hussain13 August 2026 17:00Maryam Zakir-Hussain13 August 2026 16:30Let rich pensioners opt out of state pension in exchange for OBE, Labour pressure group urges BurnhamAndy Burnham should introduce a ‘pensions sacrifice OBE’ which would allow wealthy pensioners to opt out of their state pension for at least three years in return for an honour, a Labour Party pressure group allied with the prime minister has recommended.Compass, a leading think tank, has put together a report – seen by The Independent – outlining 100 policies they believe the prime minister should introduce in his first 100 days, which will be published in three parts over the next three weeks.Maryam Zakir-Hussain13 August 2026 16:00Starmer’s leadership style doesn’t work in politics, admits one of his most senior ex-ministersSir Keir Starmer’s approach to governing “doesn’t necessarily work in politics”, a cabinet minister has suggested.Addressing the No 10 setup during her former boss’s premiership, Yvette Cooper suggested that new prime minister Andy Burnham is better equipped for “a world of social media”.Sir Keir stepped down as prime minister last month, promising his “full support” to Mr Burnham.Under Sir Keir’s tenure in Downing Street, Ms Cooper held posts in the cabinet as home secretary and subsequently foreign secretary.Maryam Zakir-Hussain13 August 2026 15:29