The UK is facing one of its strangest by-elections in modern history. 

Tomorrow will see Clacton constituents vote for their MP – Nigel Farage attempting to defend the seat he stood down from last month. 

The race is currently between the Reform UK Leader and satirical candidate Count Binface, with polls putting Farage around 70% and Binface around 30%. 

UK Correspondent Enda Brady told Mike Hosking those results in of themselves are embarrassing. 

He says Farage fancies himself as the next Prime Minister, but spent the last few weeks campaigning against a bin. 

There’s also the concern that since he has two parliamentary standards investigations coming his way, Farage may have to resign again, forcing yet another by-election. 

Brady told Hosking a by-election costs around £250,000, and the country is already on its knees financially. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

The UK is facing one of its strangest by-elections in modern history.&nbsp;
Tomorrow will see Clacton constituents vote for their MP – Nigel Farage attempting to defend the seat he stood down from last month.&nbsp;
The race is currently between the Reform UK Leader and satirical candidate Count Binface, with polls putting Farage around 70% and Binface around 30%.&nbsp;
UK Correspondent Enda Brady told Mike Hosking those results in of themselves are embarrassing.&nbsp;
He says Farage fancies himself as the next Prime Minister, but spent the last few weeks campaigning against a bin.&nbsp;
There’s also the concern that since he has two parliamentary standards investigations coming his way, Farage may have to resign again, forcing yet another by-election.&nbsp;
Brady told Hosking a by-election costs around £250,000, and the country is already on its knees financially.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

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The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show. Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda. The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more. The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion,...

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Enda Brady: UK Correspondent on the Clacton by-election, eclipse in Europe

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/63d6367a-2084-4bec-8eb6-b4a40173f0fe/transcript

Not for the first time have too many people read what happened yesterday completely incorrectly. 

"It was over", they told us. "The numbers were done", they told us. "Tuesday night was it", they told us. 

"There wasn’t a caucus meeting required". Wrong. 

"Mark Mitchell was Erica Stanford's deputy". Wrong. 

"The idea that Luxon could do this twice was impossible". Wrong. 

One of the great sadnesses of the modern media and its lack of institutional knowledge is too many people talk to themselves, or don’t recognise when their sources are stitching them up, or they put too much of their own agenda into the coverage. 

This is not to say Luxon didn’t have trouble and that members of the National caucus weren't whining. But it is to say that that doesn’t mean when push comes to shove you pull a trigger on what almost certainly was a gargantuan political mistake. 

To repeat from yesterday; the polls are fine, Luxon's issues are not sackable, and the economy is turning. The S&P just upgraded our GDP for God's sake. 

This is no time to panic, and this is no time to put your burgeoning aspirations as a backbencher to the test. 

I'm thrilled for Christopher Luxon. He deserves a lot better than he has got. The foibles, if you want to put them like that, are not sackable offences. 

The fact Peters last time, and Seymour this time, spoke well of what he has done in a tricky first-of-its-kind coalition deal is not to be underestimated. 

Oh the irony that opponents can see what his backbencher moaners can't. 

This is not and was not a crisis. This was a self-centred, naval gazing, bitchathon from National MPs who should know how to behave better. 

Remember where you heard it first – when National win and the Coalition enter the second term, and the Luxon era of leadership issues vanishes, because that’s what happens with victory, it will be a moment to savour. 

The easy thing for Luxon to do would have been to walk, and a lot would have. 

Belief is a sadly rare, but powerful trait and whatever you say about him he clearly has it. 

Staring them down for a second time might just be the nail in their coffin. 

He is a better man than they. 

Not for the first time have too many people read what happened yesterday completely incorrectly.&nbsp;
"It was over", they told us. "The numbers were done", they told us. "Tuesday night was it", they told us.&nbsp;
"There wasn’t a caucus meeting required". Wrong.&nbsp;
"Mark Mitchell was Erica Stanford's deputy". Wrong.&nbsp;
"The idea that Luxon could do this twice was impossible". Wrong.&nbsp;
One of the great sadnesses of the modern media and its lack of institutional knowledge is too many people talk to themselves, or don’t recognise when their sources are stitching them up, or they put too much of their own agenda into the coverage.&nbsp;
This is not to say Luxon didn’t have trouble and that members of the National caucus weren't whining. But it is to say that that doesn’t mean when push comes to shove you pull a trigger on what almost certainly was a gargantuan political mistake.&nbsp;
To repeat from yesterday; the polls are fine, Luxon's issues are not sackable, and the economy is turning. The S&amp;P just upgraded our GDP for God's sake.&nbsp;
This is no time to panic, and this is no time to put your burgeoning aspirations as a backbencher to the test.&nbsp;
I'm thrilled for Christopher Luxon. He deserves a lot better than he has got. The foibles, if you want to put them like that, are not sackable offences.&nbsp;
The fact Peters last time, and Seymour this time, spoke well of what he has done in a tricky first-of-its-kind coalition deal is not to be underestimated.&nbsp;
Oh the irony that opponents can see what his backbencher moaners can't.&nbsp;
This is not and was not a crisis. This was a self-centred, naval gazing, bitchathon from National MPs who should know how to behave better.&nbsp;
Remember where you heard it first – when National win and the Coalition enter the second term, and the Luxon era of leadership issues vanishes, because that’s what happens with victory, it will be a moment to savour.&nbsp;
The easy thing for Luxon to do would have been to walk, and a lot would have.&nbsp;
Belief is a sadly rare, but powerful trait and whatever you say about him he clearly has it.&nbsp;
Staring them down for a second time might just be the nail in their coffin.&nbsp;
He is a better man than they.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Luxon had belief and came out a winner

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/764f2962-c310-49f4-9572-b4a4017681e1/transcript

New Zealand’s elite snow sports scene is being recognised, with it set to host superstar Shaun White’s latest competition. 

The Snow League is in its second season, and this year will see the introduction of the World Challenge – a first of its kind event hosted at Cardrona in the South Island. 

The event is made up of four teams of athletes from around the world —North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Challengers— and features a couple of Kiwis. 

Kiwi freeskier Fin Melville Ives is returning after an injury, hitting the slopes as a member of Team Challengers, and told Mike Hosking he’s both excited and nervous, as it’s set to be a crazy and intense event. 

He says the event managers plan on making it a regular stop on the tour, which is exciting, and will give us an opportunity to showcase the crazy level of talent coming from New Zealand. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

New Zealand’s elite snow sports scene is being recognised, with it set to host superstar Shaun White’s latest competition.&nbsp;
The Snow League is in its second season, and this year will see the introduction of the World Challenge – a first of its kind event hosted at Cardrona in the South Island.&nbsp;
The event is made up of four teams of athletes from around the world —North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Challengers— and features a couple of Kiwis.&nbsp;
Kiwi freeskier Fin Melville Ives is returning after an injury, hitting the slopes as a member of Team Challengers, and told Mike Hosking he’s both excited and nervous, as it’s set to be a crazy and intense event.&nbsp;
He says the event managers plan on making it a regular stop on the tour, which is exciting, and will give us an opportunity to showcase the crazy level of talent coming from New Zealand.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Fin Melville Ives: Kiwi freeskier on recovering from his injury, upcoming Snow League World Challenge in Cardrona

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3b6427dc-b9d3-49bf-a13b-b4a4016df08a/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 13th of August, Minister Mark Mitchell gives us the inside word on the leadership coup. 

The latest threat report from the NZSIS paints us in a more vulnerable position than a year ago – Director-General Andrew Hampton discusses the details. 

Fin Melville Ives details his recovery from his horrific crash at the Winter Olympics and the new snow sport event launching in NZ that he's part of.   

Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 13th of August, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/mark-mitchell-national-mp-on-christopher-luxon-surviving-a-second-leadership-challenge-chris-penk-being-sacked/">Minister Mark Mitchell</a> gives us the inside word on the leadership coup.&nbsp;
The latest threat report from the NZSIS paints us in a more vulnerable position than a year ago – <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/andrew-hampton-sis-director-general-warns-that-national-security-challenges-have-intensified-over-the-past-year/">Director-General Andrew Hampton</a> discusses the details.&nbsp;
Fin Melville Ives details his recovery from his horrific crash at the Winter Olympics and the new snow sport event launching in NZ that he's part of. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 13 August 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c723b8bd-9c8d-4d71-8607-b4a4016185d0/transcript

Enda Brady: UK Correspondent on the Clacton by-election, eclipse in Europe

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