Nigel Farage has become the first winning candidate since Bobby Sands to not attend his own declaration, as he refused to turn up to the count in the Clacton by-election. The Reform UK leader, who triggered the by-election by resigning as MP, claimed a protest was planned at the count.
Protest Claims and Police Advice
Speaking at an event in Essex ahead of the result being announced, Farage said: "I’ve been advised tonight by Essex Police that there is an organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result that will take place in a few hours’ time." He added: "Once again it shows you the sheer intolerance, the sheer loss of fundamental democratic principles that those that went before us, fought in world wars, to fight for and preserve."
Farage continued: "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."
Historical Context and Election Claims
Bobby Sands, the IRA hunger striker, was in hospital when he was elected MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone in 1981 and died less than a month later. Farage's absence marks the first time a winning candidate has not attended their declaration since then.
Votes are still being counted at the election, which was triggered when Farage resigned over scrutiny of a £5million gift from a Thai crypto billionaire. Farage claimed he has secured more votes in the by-election than when he won in the seat in the 2024 general election, despite results not being officially confirmed.
Official Response and Count Continuation
Returning officer Ian Davidson said: "We work very closely with Essex Police and will be continuing the count in a safe and secure manner. I will not comment on security matters. We've been working closely with Essex Police. We just had a further meeting, and there's no issue with continuing the count tonight."
A result is not due until around 6am on Friday. Farage said: "The verdict is now in, and it is a convincing, overwhelming win with more votes than we got in the General Election of 2024. In doing so we have beaten the candidate for the ‘uni-party’. Yes there were Liberal Democrats, Labour, Conservative canvassers out canvassing for Count Binface. What an upside-down world it is, where Count Binface is now the candidate of the establishment."
The former commodities trader, who has been active in politics for 33 years, added: "Today the voters in Clacton have stuck up two fingers to the entire political establishment."
