Badenoch vows a serious Tory candidate for Clacton by-election amid Farage scrutiny

Kemi Badenoch writes to Clacton voters ahead of the by-election, promising to back a serious Conservative candidate when a genuine contest returns and accusing Nigel Farage of using the election for himself. Farage, Reform UK leader, is standing in the race as part of a 34-candidate ballot; his £5m donation is under parliamentary standards scrutiny but paused due to his resignation, with recall possible if suspended more than 10 days. Labour, Conservatives, Lib Dems and Greens are not fielding candidates, saying the resignation is a stunt, while Reform UK faces competition from figures like Count Binface and Laurence Fox.