Nigel Farage has been re-elected in Clacton, comfortably winning the self-inflicted by-election that Britain’s major parties chose to boycott. The Reform leader received 22,239 votes – 1,000 more than his total at the 2024 general election. His main rival, Count Binface, secured a respectable 9,455 votes – a 26.7 per cent share.
Turnout stood at 44.37 per cent, the constituency’s lowest since 2010. However, given the result was always fairly obvious the figure is impressive. It indicates voters did not view the by-election as a farce or gimmick, as much as the major parties tried to push the idea.
Farage did not attend this morning’s count amid concerns over an alleged ‘credible threat’ against him. The result was met with near silence as it was announced by the returning officer. Reform has also cancelled a ‘major speech’ by the returning Clacton MP that had been planned for 10.30 a.m. Farage said earlier:
The contest against Binface has merely delayed, rather than halted, that investigation
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. I’m damned if I’m going to stand on a stage, having won a resounding victory … and be demeaned and humiliated by nobodies, and I will not, sadly, be attending the count. Which means I’m going to be here all night!
