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

In the upcoming Clacton by-election, several candidates have been making headlines due to their repeated appearances in the constituency. BBC Verify has taken a closer look at the serial candidates standing in the election, examining their past performance and whether they have been able to secure enough votes to get their deposits back. Among the candidates is a local businessman, who has been a familiar face in Clacton for several years. In the 2019 general election, he secured 1,523 votes, which was 2.6% of the total, but unfortunately, this was not enough to reclaim his deposit.

Another serial candidate in the running is a long-time activist, who has been a vocal advocate for various causes in the constituency. In the 2019 general election, she secured 1,047 votes, which was 1.8% of the total. This also fell short of the threshold required to get her deposit back. A third candidate, a local resident, has also been a regular contender in Clacton elections. In the 2019 general election, he secured 1,214 votes, which was 2.1% of the total, but again, this was not enough to reclaim his deposit.

The repeated appearances of these candidates in Clacton elections have raised questions about the effectiveness of the electoral system in discouraging frivolous or serial candidacies. While the deposit system is intended to prevent candidates from standing solely to gain publicity, it appears that some individuals continue to run despite the financial risk. As the by-election approaches, voters will have to decide whether to support these serial candidates or opt for a fresh face in the constituency.