Liberal Democrat and Labour MPs have been plotting how to block Nigel Farage from calling a snap by-election in his Clacton constituency after the Reform UK leader dared the political establishment to take him on at the ballot box.
Mr Farage, who resigned as the MP for Clacton yesterday, set out his stall for why voters in his seaside seat should decide his political future.
He said: “I’ve decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions.”
However, Mr Farage could be blocked from triggering a by-election after MPs last night held talks to amend the motion which formally sets the date for a snap contest.
“Farage should be forced to stay in his seat until the parliamentary standards commissioner’s investigation is completed,” one Labour MP told The Times.
Labour minister Chris Bryant added: “The Chancellor refused to appoint Henry Cadogan MP for Reading to the Chiltern Hundreds in 1842 because he believed the MP was attempting to vacate his seat to conceal corrupt financial compromises and electoral bribery.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey went a step further by writing to Rachel Reeves to demand she blocks Mr Farage’s push for a snap by-election.
He said: “The Chancellor has the power to stop Farage’s cynical ploy. I’ve written to her this morning urging her to act.
“Farage should not be allowed to resign until the investigation into his dodgy dealings has concluded. The people of Clacton deserve the facts first.”
Despite Ms Reeves coming under pressure to block a by-election, MPs will also have an opportunity to make Mr Farage’s life difficult.
MPs could exercise the power to prevent a by-election taking place in Clacton when Reform UK Chief Whip Lee Anderson looks to “move the writ”.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is obliged to put the question to MPs, with a vote in agreement making the motion an Order for the Speaker.
The Speaker is only then able to issue a Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, who sends the writ to the returning officer.
Announcing his intention to trigger a by-election, Mr Farage said: “This will be a people versus the establishment by-election.
“It’s a chance to stick two fingers up to the entire establishment, to frankly tell them where to go.”
Reform UK figures have also railed against the main parties for failing to field candidates, accusing the so-called establishment of “bottling it”, “chickening out” and being “cowards”.
Appearing on GB News this morning, Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said: “Well, there’s clearly only one possible reason why.
“The entire political establishment – Labour, the Tories, the Lib Dems, the Greens – are refusing to stand against Nigel Farage in this upcoming by-election. It’s simple, because they know that they would lose.
“Do you think that Labour and the Tories would think they had even a modicum of a chance of unseating the man who has been the thorn in their side for decades? You think they wouldn’t take that shot?”
Mr Yusuf, who claimed the so-called “uni-party” was rallying against Reform UK, added: “They’ve taken the view that they stand no chance of beating Nigel.”
However, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch rejected the suggestion she was running scared of Mr Farage.
Mrs Badenoch told The People’s Channel: “I’m not scared of anybody. He is the one who’s running scared.
“He stopped having his press conferences once the questions got tough.
“He had a honeymoon period. I didn’t get a honeymoon period. As Leader of the Opposition, I’ve had to fight every single step of the way. And, you know, I didn’t run away from questions.”