Exclusive: Party hoped to mount serious challenge in mayoral race but attention has been diverted to Essex UK politics live – latest updates Reform UK activists have been urged to divert from the Greater Manchester mayoral byelection to support Nigel Farage’s “fake” contest 250 miles away in Clacton. A WhatsApp message shared with party members in northwest England said: “The message could not be more clear. We now need all of our fantastic activists, branch officers and councillors to come an