Similarly to the 2016 Batley and Spen by-election—held after Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered—the major opposition parties declined to stand out of respect for Amess.

[12][13][14] This follows the precedent set by the Conservatives and other major parties in the 2016 Batley and Spen by-election following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox.

[15] Patrick Maguire, writing in The Times, was critical of this decision, citing the 1990 Eastbourne by-election following the assassination of the constituency's MP by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), which was contested by all the major parties and saw the seat change hands.

[18] The following were reported as applying: Gavin Chambers, Epping Forest District councillor; Anna Firth; Seena Shah; Andrew Sheldon, leader of Castle Point Borough Council; Tamkeen Shaikh, previously stood for Southend Borough Council, and for Barking at the 2019 general election; Kevin Buck, James Courtenay and Alex Bright, Southend councillors; and Katie Channon, the daughter-in-law of Paul Channon, Southend West MP until 1997.

It was reported in The Times on 15 January 2022 that Conservative campaigners believed that the effect of the Downing Street parties controversy would mean the "turnout could be dire", citing comments by a "veteran activist" that they had been "met with a wall of disapproval such that [they] have never had before in 25 years of doing this.

Jason Pilley talked about protecting health services, ending the "war on drugs" and making cannabis a legalised and regulated industry.

[28] A report by Hope not Hate on the candidates in the by-election noted that Pilley's manifesto also called for the far-right activist Tommy Robinson (Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) to be appointed to the House of Lords.

Some bore remarks critical of the Prime Minister Boris Johnson which a BBC analysis described as "a sign that events in Westminster have played out here at the polls".

[34] The 24% turnout was just below that in the 2016 Batley and Spen by-election – which was similarly uncontested by the opposing main parties after the murder of the previous MP – and the third lowest since 1945.