Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election and returned as the constituency's MP but skipped the result declaration, saying he did not want to be "humiliated by nobodies". The Reform UK leader won with 63% of the vote on a turnout of 44% in a highly unusual by-election that he triggered in response to scrutiny of his financial backing. It was contested by a record 34 candidates, including novelty opponent Count Binface, who came second with 27% of the vote, but was boycotted by all of the main Westminster parties, who dismissed the poll as a stunt.
Farage did not show up at the count, telling supporters Essex Police had warned him of an "organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result". A Reform UK spokesperson said: "Essex Police advised Nigel not to attend the count tonight due to a credible threat against him." The BBC has been told Essex Police did not advise any candidate that they should not attend the count. "We have a proportionate and robust policing operation to ensure the safety and security of all participants in the count," an Essex Police spokesperson said.
Speaking at a rally overnight before the result was declared, Farage said he had pulled off a "convincing, overwhelming win" in the by-election. "Today the voters in Clacton have stuck two fingers up at the entire political establishment," Farage said. Reform UK has cancelled what the party had billed as a "major speech" by Farage in Clacton on Friday morning and some scheduled media appearances.
Farage received 22,239 votes, 1,014 more than his winning total at the general election in 2024, when he first became the MP for Clacton, and increased his majority from 8,405 to 12,784. The turnout was about 14% lower than it was in the 2024 general election in the constituency but about average for recent Westminster by-elections. Farage resigned as the MP for Clacton in July, triggering a by-election in the constituency.
Before he quit, Parliament's standards watchdog had been investigating him for not declaring a £5m gift he received from billionaire Reform UK donor Christopher Harborne before he became an MP. The investigation was paused but is expected to resume now he is an MP. If the investigation finds Farage has breached parliamentary rules, he could face suspension from the House of Commons and a process that could trigger another by-election in Clacton, potentially forcing him to fight for his seat again.
Opposition parties have been calling for another such investigation into financial support he received from a different political ally, George Cottrell, ahead of the general election in 2024. Farage framed the by-election as a "people versus the establishment" showdown, saying the "people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions". Nigel Farage returns as MP, winning Clacton by-election that major parties boycotted Farage's by-election victory won't stop questions about finances But Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and Restore Britain decided not to stand candidates against him, branding the contest a "gimmick" and a "circus".
Extract — continue reading at the source.
