Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election with 22,239 votes. The Reform UK leader was widely expected to retain his seat in Essex as no other major party contested the by-election, although a record 34 candidates stood. That meant ballot papers had to be three feet long to accommodate every candidate in the race.
Turnout and Vote Share
Farage increased the number of votes he secured in the 2024 general election, 21,225, on a reduced turnout of 44 percent, down from the 58pc seen two years ago. The by-election was called after Farage resigned as an MP in the wake of allegations he did not declare a £5m donation from a key ally before the 2024 general election. He is still under investigation by Parliamentary authorities.
Farage's Response and Security Concerns
The Reform UK leader said the by-election, which cost taxpayers £250,000, was a chance to have his 'record in public office be judged by the people of Clacton, not by politicians and the media in Westminster'. Farage did not attend the by-election count, with a Reform UK spokesperson saying this was because there was a 'credible threat' against him. Essex Police denied they told any candidate to stay away from proceedings. A force spokesperson said: "We have a proportionate and robust policing operation to ensure the safety and security of all participants in the count."
Reform also cancelled a planned speech at 10:30am. Instead, Farage addressed a Reform rally, dubbed 'FarageFest' at 3am. He told supporters: "Today, the voters in Clacton have stuck two fingers up to the entire political establishment."
Clash with Count Binface
Earlier in the evening, a war of words broke out between him and his nearest challenger, comedy candidate Count Binface. It started when Farage told GB News he believed he had won the ballot 'fairly convincingly' and had beaten the 'establishment candidate' — referring to Count Binface. He claimed activists from the major parties had been campaigning on his behalf. But Count Binface, a creation of comedy writer Jonathan Harvey, hit back: "That's interesting, isn't it? Because one of the candidates was a sitting MP, formerly an MEP and the architect of Brexit... if that's not the establishment, I'd like to know what is."
Nigel Farage will now be sworn in as an MP when Parliament returns from its summer recess on September 1.
