Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election with 22,239 votes, but the result was overshadowed by claims of a security threat that kept him away from the count. Count Binface, the satirical candidate, finished second with 9,455 votes, giving Farage a majority of 12,784 and 62.82% of the vote. The result was announced shortly after 6am at Clacton Leisure Centre, with turnout at 44.37%, a drop of just over 14%.
Farage skips count over 'credible threat'
Farage did not attend the announcement of the result. It was claimed Essex Police had informed him of an "organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result." Instead, he declared victory at an overnight 'Farage-fest' event in the county, telling supporters: "I'm not scared of these people, far from it. But I'm damned if I'm going to stand on a stage, having won a resounding victory, a ringing endorsement of all that I've tried to fight for, and you've tried to fight for, and be demeaned and humiliated by nobodies, and I will not sadly be attending the count."
A Reform UK spokesperson later said: "Essex Police advised Nigel not to attend the count tonight due to a credible threat against him." However, it is understood Essex Police did not advise Farage, or any other candidate, against attending the count. A spokesperson for Essex Police said: "We have a proportionate and robust policing operation to ensure the safety and security of all participants in the count."
Reform UK clarifies security advice
Deputy Reform leader Richard Tice later clarified that it was Farage's "team" who determined that "there was sufficient anxiety, and concern, and threats" warranting his absence from the count. When asked if he could provide further details, he told GB News: "No, I can't. But I think we should just trust those tasked with keeping Nigel safe and alive. I hesitate to say, but that's what the task is."
The by-election was triggered by Farage's resignation amid scrutiny over money received from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne. The parliamentary investigation into that £5m gift has resumed this morning. According to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards’ website, the probe into an alleged failure to declare an interest is now ongoing again, having been opened on May 13. He may also be subject to an investigation into assistance provided by George Cottrell, a longtime associate.
Count Binface and opponents react
Satirical contender Count Binface emerged as Farage's closest challenger after other mainstream parties decided not to field candidates. Speaking to Sky News, the "space warrior" raised the prospect of a second by-election in the constituency should Farage be found to have breached Parliamentary rules. He said: "You just said at the beginning of this interview that Nigel Farage is claiming victory, but in that case it's going to be a two-legged match like the Carabao Cup or the Cold War, because we're going to be back again in a few weeks aren't we? We'll see what happens then. Even if I got to 12%, so one-in-eight people in Clacton would rather vote for a space warrior shaped like a bin than Nigel Farage."
Both Labour and the Conservatives insisted his victory would do nothing to put the controversy to rest. Labour chairwoman Bridget Phillipson said: "This is no victory for Nigel Farage. The mountain of sleaze and scandal he and Reform are now engulfed in has grown and grown while he's been trying to distract the public by fighting a by-election against a bin. He must come clean with the public and put all the facts on the table over his secret £5m gift, his relationship with a convicted fraudster, and the other scandals his Party is drowning in." A Conservative Party spokesperson said: "Nigel Farage called this fake by-election in a desperate attempt to draw a line under the questions surrounding his fishy £5m donation. Whatever the outcome on Friday, this stunt has not done that."
