The serial candidates standing against Farage in the Clacton by-election

Record-Breaking Clacton By-Election Features Eight Serial Candidates

Ninoda.com – Next week’s Clacton by-election is set to produce what is believed to be the longest ballot paper in British electoral history, with 34 candidates contesting the seat. While the major political parties have chosen not to field opponents against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, the remaining 33 contenders come from smaller parties or are running as independents. Among these, eight names have become familiar faces across multiple UK ballot papers, including Reclaim Party leader Laurence Fox and two satirical contenders: Count Binface and Howling Laud Hope.

BBC Verify has examined these serial candidates, reviewing their electoral track records and determining whether any have secured sufficient votes to retain their deposits. Parliamentary candidates require a £500 deposit, which is returned if they achieve more than 5% of the vote share. London mayoral elections impose stricter rules, requiring candidates to live, work, or own property in the capital, along with 10 nominations from each borough plus 10 from the City of London, with a £10,000 deposit at stake.

The Eight Serial Contenders

Eight candidates are standing against Farage in Clacton, marking their third or greater attempt to enter Westminster or become London’s mayor. This group includes Rejoin EU’s John Stevens, Social Democratic Party leader William Clouston, Reclaim’s Laurence Fox, independent Joseph 77, Count Binface, and three Official Monster Raving Loony Party members: leader Howling Laud Hope, Nick the Incredible Flying Brick, and Baron Von Thunderclap.

UK electoral regulations allow a registered political party to nominate more than one candidate in a parliamentary by-election. Each individual must hold a valid nomination and receive authorization from the party’s nominating officer. Notably, parliamentary candidates need not reside in the constituency they represent, though they must secure nominations from 10 local residents.

Howling Laud Hope: The Veteran Campaigner

Alan Hope, known publicly as Howling Laud Hope, has participated in 37 parliamentary elections since 1983 as leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party. He challenged David Cameron’s constituency when Cameron became prime minister in 2010 and later stood against former prime minister Theresa May during the 2017 general election.

Hope’s strongest performance came in the 2011 Leicester South by-election, where he finished fifth among five candidates with 553 votes, representing 1.6% of the total. Despite his extensive campaigning history, he has never accumulated enough votes to reclaim his £500 parliamentary deposit. Across his 37 attempts, he has lost all 37 deposits.

Nick the Incredible Flying Brick

Nick Delves, campaigning as Nick the Incredible Flying Brick, has contested 13 parliamentary elections for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party. In the 2024 general election, he stood against former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer. His best result occurred in West Derbyshire during the 2001 general election, when he placed fifth of six candidates with 472 votes, equating to 0.9% of all votes cast.

Like Howling Laud Hope, Nick the Incredible Flying Brick has never won sufficient votes to recover his £500 parliamentary deposit. His record shows 13 previous attempts with 13 deposits lost.

Joseph 77 and Count Binface

Tom Darwood, who campaigns under the name Joseph 77, has contested seven parliamentary elections. His most successful campaign took place in Southend West, Essex, during the 2019 general election, where he secured 574 votes (1.2%) in a Conservative-held seat. Darwood has similarly never won enough votes to reclaim his £500 parliamentary deposit across his seven attempts.

Count Binface represents the satirical persona of comedian Jon Harvey, who has previously stood in four parliamentary elections and two London mayoral contests. As Count Binface, Harvey has shared ballot papers with two sitting prime ministers during general elections, including Boris Johnson in 2024.

Nigel Farage himself has participated in seven parliamentary contests since 1994, successfully winning the Clacton seat in the 2024 general election. The by-election will take place on August 13, with voters facing what is understood to be the longest ballot paper ever produced for British elections.