Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election, but the victory is being described as hollow amid an ongoing investigation into a £5 million gift and a contest that cost taxpayers around a quarter of a million pounds.
By-election boycotted by major parties
The by-election was triggered by Farage himself, who resigned his seat, but the major political parties boycotted the contest, accusing him of dodging scrutiny over the £5 million gift he faces a Commons probe over. The aim was to frame it as a "people versus the establishment" contest, but the main contender was Count Binface, a self-declared intergalactic space warrior from planet Sigma IX.
In the early hours of Friday morning, Farage declared: "The voters in Clacton have stuck two fingers up to the entire political establishment." However, the claim that Count Binface represents the establishment was widely dismissed.
Farage snubs official count
While 33 candidates descended on Clacton leisure centre, Farage, who triggered the contest, snubbed the official count and the chance to praise volunteers who worked through the night counting ballot papers. He claimed to have been told of a "credible threat" against him by Essex Police, an account disputed by the force. Labour's Anna Turley had a different interpretation: "Just didn't want to be pictured next to a bin."
The by-election was also criticised as a reckless waste of taxpayers' cash. Officials have estimated a price tag of around a quarter of a million pounds, with a proportion to be paid for by the council, which is also responsible for the Jaywick area, the most deprived neighbourhood in England. Reform UK offered to front up the cost, but officials would have no choice but to refuse, as political parties cannot fund elections.
Investigation into £5m gift continues
Farage still faces an investigation into a £5 million gift from Thai-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. If found to have broken MPs' rules, a second by-election could be on the cards in a matter of months. As a Labour source told me: "Farage may have won the by-election, but he hasn’t escaped the questions hanging over him. Same scandals, same questions over his and Reform's finances. Just a pointless trip to the polls."
Farage may have won today, but it is a hollow victory and one with a staggering cost to Clacton's residents.
