Why are no other parties putting forward candidates in the Clacton by election?

[minmooch]

I understand that they do not want to participate in the Farage political stunt but if no one but Farage and Bin Face stand surely no one will vote in Bin Face? Then Farage gets back in? If only 2 people turn out to vote is that enough to get either one in?

I have tried to read what will happen but it just seems to be about not participating in this stunt with no explanation as to what happens then.

Because Farage called the election on the bizarre premise that if he wins (which he probably would have even with others standing) that that means it’s ok to take £5 million bribes.

The idea that the taking of a £5 million bribe can in any way be validated by the people of Clacton before the investigation has even concluded is just stupid.

And so by not standing candidates, Farage’s entire premise for calling it disappears. ‘You won, not because it’s ok to take £5 million bribes but because your opponent was a man with a bin on his head, now let’s get back to investigating your finances’.

I suspect farage takes personal calls with trump a lot and listens to all the tactics that work for trump. But Britain is Britain and at some point it won't work.

Because as long as he is an MP the investigation into his finances by Parliament can go ahead. By not fielding any candidates the other parties are making sure he remains a sitting MP.

Bonnie Blue standing? That would make a change.

By not standing against him. Yeah letting him back into parliament that will just show how they don’t want him in parliament…

You would have had a point if it wasn't a bye-election that Farage called on himself.

He needs to get back in and inquiry can continue.

Because the establishment are running scared of farage and reform. He’s upset the status quo and they don’t like it! The usual tactics of muck raking by the media haven’t worked to get rid so now they are getting desperate! What they are not considering is that the average voter knows that Nigel is not whiter than white and they simply don’t care because we have had years of politicians pretending that their shit doesn’t stink and being massive hypocrites until they eventually get found out! Its obvious what nigel is! People want a complete change and the “ establishment” doesn’t realise that thats what the majority will vote for in the next GE regardless of how much muck they throw at Nigel Farage.

Farage is doing this as a distraction. It’s understandable that other parties won’t play.

Farage is very much 'the Establishment'

No, you misunderstood my point. The people of Clacton are entitled to have a choice of elected representatives. It doesn’t matter if Labour or the Convservatives ‘disagree’ with the decision to call the by-election. They should stand. Many disagreed with the reasons for the Makerfield by-election - this didn’t result in a boycott by all the political parties.

Oh I didn’t realise that - that’s a shame I think it should be a 2 horse race as it makes it look even more ridiculous then AND gives him a better chance of losing to a bin

If NF wins or loses, can he still be investigated? Am I missing something here, or will he resign again to prevent investigation.

Forgive my ignorance on these matters!

You can't compare the 2 elections.

The Conservatives have already said that they will run if a bye-election is called after the Standards Commission investigation.

It's so he can't claim 'well the people decided that my financial dealings were ok by voting me back in'

It would be hilarious if Binface won, although unlikely. It’s a farce. Farage will get voted back, the investigation will continue, and if he’s in breach, then it’ll be another by-election. 🙄

You’re saying that some elections are more valid than others? Please explain, so that you can demonstrate your tenuous grasp of democracy.

This particular election is a farce.

That is what my tenuous grasp of democracy tells me and and most of the political parties

It's not being blocked, so it is valid. Doesn't mean we have to take it seriously.

Actually I’d like Count Binface to get in - the actor/writer/cambridge grad that performs him, Jonathan Harvey, is politically astute and might actually find himself warming to the role. It reminds me of Zelensky standing for the presidential elections in the Ukraine - a comedian and actor, not seriously expecting to win, but his lack of political ego and agenda meant he grew into the role. Perhaps Harvey could be a breath of fresh air to Clacton constituency for a couple of years whilst ousting Farage?

ETA… can you imagine the ignominy of being beaten by the binman? Farage may bugger off and find a rock to crawl under at last.

Farage/Reform die hards would stand by him either way because they are hooked on a person/idea to the point that Nigel knows he could spin it however it went.

• everyone stands, Nigel wins: fanclub go, look he's showing them all up, this is what the people want
• everyone stands, Nigel loses: its a conspiracy against him because he's trying to take the establishment down
• noone stands, Nigel wins: look he's showing them all up, this is what the people want, they were too scared to even stand!
• noone stands, Nigel loses: fanclub just continue to support him, noone's mind gets changed, Nigel doesnt get investigated properly so in their eyes he did nothing wrong, and even if he did then its an establishment setup OR 'i dont see what the big deal is, he needs money to run/protect himself' and they still cant see how Nigel taking this money makes him a corrupt self serving weasel who is so part of the establishment he might as well have a blue plaque on the wall.

The outcome of this wont impact his fan base in the slightest because they fundamentally either do not understand what he did wrong or care because that stuff only matters when its a 'lefty' doing it. Its so fucking frustrating.

One point of democracy is choice. The other parties are choosing not to stand, this happens all the time. Sometimes parties don’t stand candidates, Labour and Conservatives don’t stand in Northern Ireland does that mean that’s not democratic.

There are many nuances to the U.K. electoral systems.

Because it's a political stunt that Farage has dreamt up to deflect from the investigation into his finances.
Once the investigation has concluded he is found guilty there will likely be a by election anyway. The other parties will take part then. Currently there is no need for a by election

So what? He’ll get back in presumably and how will he be in any different position to where he was 2 days ago, before he resigned? It’s a joke.

It’s like me handing my notice in at work, leaving, immediately applying when they advertise my role and them deciding that they’re happy for me to return and me saying “Well if you’re just going to allow me to have my old job back you mustn’t want me in the job!” It’s a ludicrous argument. It makes zero sense.

It isn't anti democratic in any way. There is no compulsion for anyone else to stand.
If it makes anyone look ridiculous it is Farage. He called it unnecessarily. The people of Clacton already had an MP, him. By resigning and standing again he is the one using the system to make his own political point. Understandably the other political parties don't want to waste money indulging Farage's tantrum because he doesn't like being held to account.

If he wins the investigation will resume