Bye By Farage...

[Beany]

In his very, very mild defence, I think that's pretty normal for such people at such events with cameras rolling.

The outfit clinches it - The classic English gentleman abroad: It's David Niven. It's Stewart Grainger. It's Nigel Havers. It's a green (blue) blazer. The look? 'Imperial Leisure'.

I'm cynical enough to believe that every politician has a "laying a wreath" outfit.

[Simon]

In his very, very mild defence, I think that's pretty normal for such people at such events with cameras rolling.

Yeah, I think DaBean nails it. Nothing worse than only capturing half a grief.

[Beany]

Adjusting a wreath in your hands before you put it down is for normal people.

[DeskJockey]

This is epic

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... dApp_Other

[Beany]

Goes nicely with this I guess. I wonder if this'll embed.

If it doesn't, if you click through you'll see Binface beach art (IE a 50ft raked pic) from Scarborough.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1D2uFENdNJ/


It didn't embed, have a pic from the vid.

BinfaceBeach.jpg (135.37 KiB) Viewed 754 times

[Delphi]

I've read a report that says Farage was advised that the investigation into his £5m undeclared loan/security fund/bung would not be restarted should he be re-elected and it turns out that this isn't the case. I mean, on one hand I can't believe they got it so spectacularly wrong, but on the other, this is Reform so anything's possible. It would explain the reason behind him quitting in such a bizarre fashion.

[duncs500]

I thought that was stated from the get-go? I'm sure I heard a commentator say it when this was just a rumour, or at least say that the investigation would likely re-start from where it was in the event that he was reinstated as an MP.

[Beany]

Oh, it's been known since it was initially reported, because journos looked up the rules. I'm guessing his 'advisors' used the cheapest AI avaialble.

"Sorry, you're absolutely right to call me out on that, I was completely wrong"

What's more interesting is that if Farage loses his seat, that might not stop the investigation either - it's up to the discretion of the committee as to whether they continue the investigation, so even if he suffers the absolute ignominy of losing to a bin, he might still face further public repercussions, humiliation, and be banned from standing for a period, be referred to the police, etc.

[Rich B]

I don’t understand why they stopped/paused the investigation - i understood that that was a discretionary thing too.

[Beany]

There's probably a three hundred year old gentlemans agreement about it somewhere.

[jamcg]

There's probably a three hundred year old gentlemans agreement about it somewhere.

Aye, if you share the joy we’ll let you off sir, but you need something big to distract the peasants while we let you go free

[Beany]

It's less that, but more that a lot of parliamentary standards (and disciplinary procedures) seem to be stuck in the 1800s, where a gentleman MPs reputation was key, and they'd be expected to behave as such and it'd be anathema to not do so - unlike today, where many modern politicians are sleazy, money grubbing, lazy arsewipes who think that behaving with a bit of decency is for fucking losers.

[Jobbo]

I don’t understand why they stopped/paused the investigation - i understood that that was a discretionary thing too.

He ceased to be an MP so it would have been a bit of a nonsense.

If he loses this by-election then stands again at the next general election and wins, it would be amusing to have this hanging over him.

[Delphi]

He's cooked either way. If he wins the election, he's only managed to beat a comedy candidate AND he's back open to investigation which will likely lead to him getting canned. If he loses (admittedly an unlikely scenario), he's lost to a bin and he's effectively finished as a politician, although he's got form in that area as he once lost to a man dressed as a dolphin.

[MikeHunt]

I've read a report that says Farage was advised that the investigation into his £5m undeclared loan/security fund/bung would not be restarted should he be re-elected and it turns out that this isn't the case. I mean, on one hand I can't believe they got it so spectacularly wrong, but on the other, this is Reform so anything's possible. It would explain the reason behind him quitting in such a bizarre fashion.

I saw this and find it difficult to believe, the timing is bizarre though. If the only issue was the £5m, it hardly seems enough to justify triggering a by-election at least until after the investigation.

[Beany]

Apparently Reform have people at *every* polling station in Clacton taking names etc (mostly legal, assuming they don't get gobby about it or actually electioneer outside etc IIRC)

Astonishing how hard they're pushing to try to get a win against a comedy act in a bin outfit. Truly pathetic.

[jamcg]

Apparently Reform have people at *every* polling station in Clacton taking names etc (mostly legal, assuming they don't get gobby about it or actually electioneer outside etc IIRC)

Astonishing how hard they're pushing to try to get a win against a comedy act in a bin outfit. Truly pathetic.

It’s not just count binface, despite not having any labour or Tory candidates, they think this election has the longest ballot paper in British history

[Sundayjumper]

IMG_9626.jpeg (111.82 KiB) Viewed 254 times

[Jobbo]

Apparently Reform have people at *every* polling station in Clacton taking names etc (mostly legal, assuming they don't get gobby about it or actually electioneer outside etc IIRC)

Astonishing how hard they're pushing to try to get a win against a comedy act in a bin outfit. Truly pathetic.

It’s not just count binface, despite not having any labour or Tory candidates, they think this election has the longest ballot paper in British history

It seems that is going to delay the result because the count will take far longer

Farage's £5m has another possible consequence. He's being investigated by the Met in respect of the offence of misconduct in a public office: https://bylinetimes.com/2026/08/12/nige ... ic-office/
To be honest I think that is an opportunity to smear him, having been publicised yesterday. I don't think there is any way the offence could be made out based on the date of the £5m payment and the fact he was not in a public office at the relevant time, though there will be ambiguities about both of those; the money wasn't all paid on one date, I understand.

[duncs500]

Why is the by-election buried so far down on the BBC news page? Surely this is by far the most interesting thing happening today?