Clacton result: Investigation into Farage's financial affairs must now crack on

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Clacton result: Investigation into Farage's financial affairs must now crack on

Reacting to the Clacton by-election result, Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokesperson Lisa Smart MP said:

“Like most people who win a fight against a bin, Farage has come away looking daft and smelling of yesterday’s chip paper. Now that he's heading back to Westminster, the investigation into his shady financial affairs and £5 million "gift" must crack on. Reform claims to fight for the people, but they answer to crypto-billionaires.

“Triggering a vanity by-election was a blatant attempt to dodge being held to account. The Liberal Democrats have proposed a ‘Clacton Clause’ to a bill going through parliament that would stop a stunt like this being pulled ever again. A sitting MP under investigation should never be able to weaponise a by-election into a taxpayer funded attempt to escape scrutiny.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• The Lib Dems have proposed a ‘Clacton Clause’ in order to prevent any MP under investigation from resigning their seat. See NC79 to the Representation of the People Bill here.

To move the following Clause—

“Parliamentary elections: By-elections

(1) Schedule 1 of RPA 1983 is amended as follows.

(2) After rule 6 (nomination of candidates) insert—

“6AA (1) A person is not validly nominated as a candidate for a Parliamentary

seat if—

(a) The election was triggered as a result of the candidate

accepting an office of profit under the Crown, and

(b) The candidate is under investigation from the Parliamentary

Standards Commissioner.””