Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election, securing 22,239 votes and returning as the constituency's MP. The result was announced after he resigned in July amid scrutiny over his personal finances.
His vote share increased only slightly from the 21,255 votes he received in the 2024 general election, a rise of fewer than 1,000 votes. His main rival, parody candidate Count Binface, won 9,455 votes, a significant number for a candidate dressed as a bin.
All major parties boycotted the race, calling it a stunt to avoid scrutiny over a £5 million gift Mr Farage received shortly before the 2024 general election. Labour said the by-election was "no victory for Nigel Farage" and "shows he likely has so much to hide".
Victory speech cancelled
Mr Farage did not attend the count to give a victory speech. He claimed police had warned him against attending, but The Mirror understands police did not request that any candidate avoid the count. Essex Police said it had "a proportionate and robust policing operation to ensure the safety and security of all participants" at Clacton.
A speech scheduled for Friday morning was also cancelled. Instead, he responded to the result at a private event in Clacton, dubbed 'Farage Fest' by Reform, with GB News as the only media outlet present.
Investigation into £5m gift restarts
An investigation into the £5 million gift Mr Farage received and did not declare is expected to restart. The probe paused when he resigned in July, triggering the by-election. Under Commons' code of conduct protocol, the Commissioner suspends an investigation if an MP ceases to be an MP, resuming it upon their re-election.
In May, Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg confirmed he would investigate the alleged failure to declare the £5m sum, which Mr Farage received from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne. Under Parliamentary rules, new MPs must declare any potentially relevant gifts or donations received in the 12 months before entering the Commons.
Mr Farage initially said the money was for security, but later said it was not the public's business how he spends it, adding he was free to spend it on Ferraris or betting on horseracing.
Possible sanctions and another by-election
If found to have breached MPs' rules, the Standards Commissioner could impose a sanction, ranging from an apology to correcting the record. For serious breaches, the Commissioner sends a report to the committee on standards, which could recommend a suspension, requiring approval by the House of Commons.
If Mr Farage is suspended for 10 or more days, he could face a recall petition. If 10% of eligible registered voters sign it, he would lose his seat, triggering another by-election in Clacton. Many parties said they would contest any potential by-election triggered after the standards probe.
Kemi Badenoch refused to stand a Tory candidate in the "fake" by-election and said her party would contest "the real by-election, which will follow the standards investigation into Nigel Farage’s fishy finances". Restore's Rupert Lowe said similar.
