Reform offers to pay for Clacton by-election while pressing for August poll

Reform UK has offered to cover the by-election's full running costs and wants polling day in August, compressing the timeline for Parliament's standards inquiry into Nigel Farage's undeclared £5 million gift. The inquiry, paused since his resignation, could resume if he wins back his seat. An earlier poll would leave weeks rather than months for scrutiny of the financial questions before Farage returns to Parliament.