Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election, securing 22,239 votes (63.34%, +17.16%) out of a record 34 candidates. The Reform UK leader pre-empted the official declaration by telling supporters he had won "fairly convincingly" and described the result as an "overwhelming endorsement" of him.
Police Threat Claims Disputed
Farage said he would not attend the official declaration at Clacton Leisure Centre, citing an "organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result" that Essex Police had told him about. 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 that Essex Police did not tell Farage, or any other candidate, not to attend 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."
Full Results
Count Binface came second with 9,455 votes (26.93%). Other notable results include John Stevens (Rejoin) with 492 votes, Tony Francis (Independent) with 432, and Pamela Walford (Independent) with 371. Laurence Fox (Reclaim) received 347 votes.
The full list of all 34 candidates and their vote counts is as follows: Nigel Farage (Reform) 22,239; Count Binface (Binface) 9,455; John Stevens (Rejoin) 492; Tony Francis (Ind) 432; Pamela Walford (Ind) 371; Laurence Fox (Reclaim) 347; William Clouston (SDP) 256; Nick Pelas (Ind) 202; James Ransley (Consensus) 192; Stephen Ingram (Ind) 159; Kai Stephens (BDP) 132; Attieh Fard (Ind) 126; Derrick Morris (Ind) 100; Martyn OBrien (Ind) 65; Martin Davies (FA) 60; Robin Green (Ind) 59; Rees Cowne (Ind) 50; Adham Alkhatip (Forward) 49; Amy Morris (Ind) 46; Andy Erlam (Ind) 44; Joseph 77 (Ind) 42; Nick The Incredible Flying Brick (Loony) 28; Ketankumar Pipaliya (Voice) 21; Michael O’Keefe (Ind) 19; Howling Laud Hope (Loony) 18; Tony Cane (Ind) 17; Daniel Pocock (ND) 16; Baron Von Thunderclap (Loony) 15; Abi Hookway (Ind) 14; Marc Wilkinson (Ind) 11; Marcus White (Everyone) 10; Gerry Smith (Ind) 9; Woke Trump Carrzee (Ind) 8; Glenn Cummings (Ind) 7.
The Reform majority was 12,784 (36.41%). The electorate was 79,785, with a turnout of 35,111 (44.01%, -14.39%). In the 2024 general election, Reform's majority was 8,405 (18.29%) with a turnout of 45,958 (58.39%).
Logistical Challenges
The contest was estimated to have cost taxpayers around £250,000. The 90cm-long ballot paper caused logistical problems for Tendring District Council and returning officer Ian Davidson. Larger tables than usual were required at the count, and the result was announced on the floor of Clacton Leisure Centre rather than on a stage due to the number of candidates. Photographers and TV cameras were advised they would need a wide-angle lens to fit all candidates into a single shot.
