A gamble by UK populist leader Nigel Farage to resign as MP and trigger a snap special election risks descending into farce after all the major parties refused to stand, leaving a comedian famed for wearing a trash can on his head as his only challenger.

The resignation will trigger a by-election in the coastal electorate of Clacton, which Farage says he will contest.

His resignation amid a donation scandal will trigger a byelection, which the Reform UK leader says he will contest – and no major party will field a candidate against him.