Reform UK's Lee Anderson has hit back amid a row over claims Nigel Farage stayed away from the Clacton by-election count because of a "credible threat". Mr Farage did not attend the official declaration after telling supporters that Essex Police had informed him about an "organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result". A Reform UK spokesperson subsequently said: "Essex Police advised Nigel not to attend the count tonight due to a credible threat against him."
Disputed Version of Events
However, that version of events has been disputed, with the Press Association reporting that Essex Police did not tell Mr Farage, or any other candidate, not to attend the count. Asked whether there had been a credible threat against the Reform leader, Mr Anderson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Well, he was told, and he said this in his speech earlier about five hours ago, that there was some planned disruption amongst I think it was some of the other candidates. I think that was the case."
Anderson's Defence
"So why go there when you've got you know 35, sorry, 33 other other candidates who and their team… Why would you go there and listen to them being abusive when you can be with real people from the real world?" Mr Anderson was then pressed on the apparent difference between planned disruption and Reform's claim that there had been a "credible threat". He responded: "It's not up to you at the BBC to decide whether or not there's a credible threat. It's up to Nigel and his security team, and that's the end of that question."
Police Response and Result
Essex Police said it had a "proportionate and robust policing operation to ensure the safety and security of all participants in the count". Mr Farage ultimately retained his Clacton seat after winning 22,239 votes, comfortably ahead of his closest challenger Count Binface, who received 9,455. The Reform leader had already told supporters he expected to win "fairly convincingly" before the official result was declared. His decision to stay away from the count has since become the focus of a row over precisely what security concerns existed and what advice was given before the declaration.
