Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election, securing 22,239 votes and returning as the constituency's MP. The contest, which cost taxpayers £250,000, saw parody candidate Count Binface as his main rival, backed by tens of thousands of voters with a turnout of just over 44.4 percent.
Farage skips declaration
In an early-morning development, Mr Farage announced he would not attend the result declaration, becoming the first successful candidate to do so since imprisoned IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands in 1981. He told activists he had been made aware of plans to "disrupt and degrade" the proceedings, saying he would not be "devalued and humiliated by nobodies" and instead spent the night at a 'Farage Fest' with celebrating supporters. A planned speech due at 10.30am was also scrapped, with no reason given.
The count proceeded without him, with acting returning officer Ian Davidson telling staff: "There is no issue in terms of us completing the count tonight." Mr Farage partied several miles away, an event not open to media except GB News, the network he hosts a show on.
Binface reacts
Count Binface, who attended the count, said he was "flattered" that Reform had put so much resource into beating him. He noted that Reform lost the Greater Manchester mayoral election after diverting resources to Clacton, saying: "I mean, they lost that one didn't they? So maybe he knew that he needed to divert his resources, like one of those World War II movies I'm sure he enjoys." He added: "whether he's scared of me, you need to ask Nigel that, but I have noticed just how hard Reform have been campaigning against an alien space warrior with a Ceefax fetish who only eight weeks ago scored 0.2% in Makerfield."
Binface also cited polling by More In Common which found 37% of Brits wanted him to win the seat, with only 32% backing Mr Farage. The by-election featured a record 34 candidates on the ballot paper, which delayed the result.
Political reactions
Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson said: "Nigel Farage spent 38 days fighting a bin in his most desperate attempt yet to deflect attention from the sleaze and scandals engulfing him and his Party. Farage may succeed in his run-off against a bin, but he can't run from the truth forever." A Tory spokesperson said: "Nigel Farage called this fake by-election in a desperate attempt to draw a line under the questions surrounding his fishy £5 million donation. Whatever the outcome on Friday, this stunt has not done that."
Mr Farage is being investigated by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner over an undeclared £5million 'gift' from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, with the investigation expected to reopen when he returns to the Commons.
