Nigel Farage won the Clacton by-election, but refused to attend the official declaration of the result amid disputed claims he was acting on police advice.
The Reform UK leader was re-elected as MP with 22,239 votes, securing a 12,784 majority in the by-election he called, with all the other main parties boycotting the vote.
His nearest challenger, Count Binface, who was among a record 34 candidates standing, polled his best ever result, securing 9,455 votes.
But Farage and Reform UK claimed that Essex Police advised him to stay away from the count. Here is what we know so far:
What happened at the count?
Before the result was confirmed, Farage told supporters he had won “fairly convincingly” and that the result was an “overwhelming endorsement” of him.
But he said he wasn’t attending the official declaration at Clacton Leisure Centre as Essex Police had warned him about an “organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result”.
It was the first time a winning MP didn’t attend his own declaration since IRA hunger Bobby Sands in 1981, who was in prison at the time.
Count Binface came second among 34 candidates (Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty)Instead, Farage joined supporters at an all-night “Farage-fest” event in the Essex countryside – complete with a ferris wheel and live band – saying: “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.”
He added that Clacton’s voters had “stuck up two fingers to the entire political establishment”.
Count Binface said he was “the winning candidate of the candidates who bothered to turn up for the results” and that the result had “humiliated” Nigel Farage.
One candidate who polled 11 votes, Marc Wilkinson, who owns a pizza shop in Ediniburgh, and has now stood in seven elections since the 2024 general election, bemoaned the amount of attention given to Count Binface.
Farage was due to make what he described as a “major speech” in Clacton at 10.30am on Friday, but Reform cancelled it, saying he had “already commented on the expected result of the by-election”.
Why did Reform say Farage stayed away?
Later, Reform UK said that the reasons Farage stayed away from the count were more serious than at first had been indicated.
A party spokesperson said: “Essex Police advised Nigel not to attend the count tonight due to a credible threat against him.”
The Reform UK leader attended a ‘Farage-Fest’ event in the Essex countryside rather than attending the count (Photo: Richard Pelham/AP)Asked about the alleged threats against Farage, Richard Tice said: “Nigel’s security team are tasked with keeping him safe, secure, and alive.
He added: “Nigel would have loved to have been at the count.
“He’d have loved to have received that good news and that result in person.
“There’s no one who believes more in the propriety of that process, but ultimately, it’s their job to keep him safe, and they assessed that they couldn’t guarantee that.”
Tice then pointed to the investigation into the alleged murder of Reform spokesperson Ann Widdecombe, as well as the alleged “firebombing” incident at Farage’s home last year.
Police are investigating whether the man charged with murdering Widdecombe was also responsible for firebombing Farage’s home.
“We’re very cautious about issues around safety and security for obvious reasons,” Tice said.
In an interview with LBC, Tice indicated that Reform’s security arrangements would supercede official police guidance on threats.
He told Nick Ferrari: “His security team were very concerned about a credible threat to his security […] I don’t think anybody should have the temerity to question our judgments and our security team’s judgments about security and safety.
“People have no idea what the level of threats and risk we face.
“I don’t know what the official guidance was. The point is, Nick, ultimately it’s not the police who decide as to whether or not Nigel is kept safe. It is his security team.
“They are tasked with keeping him safe and secure and, bluntly alive, and I respect their judgement in, uh, in preference to anybody else’s judgement.”
What did the police say?
However, The i Paper understands Essex Police did not tell Farage, or any other candidate, not to attend the count.
A police spokesperson said there had been “a full and robust policing operation in place around the Clacton by-election”, as with all significant elections in the county.
All 51 polling stations were visited by officers, who patrolled on foot and in vehicles with a drone team monitoring the air.
They added there were no incidents or issues throughout Thursday and Friday, with officers working alongside Tendring District Council’s security teams.
“The decision of candidates to attend or not attend the election count is a decision for individuals and their security teams,” a police spokesperson said.
What could happen now?
The parliamentary investigation launched into a £5 million gift received by Farage from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne resumed after he won the by-election.
The inquiry was later widened to probe if Fargae should have declared support convicted fraudster George Cottrell.
According to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards’ website, the probe over an alleged failure to declare an interest is now ongoing again after it was opened on 13 May.
Previously, the website said it had been suspended amid the Clacton by-election, with the resumption automatic now Farage is returning to the Commons after winning the vote.
Farage could face a second by-election if he is found to have broken parliamentary rules.
If the standards commissioner rules against him, MPs could suspend him from the Commons.
If he is suspended for more than 10 sitting days, it would trigger a recall petition in his constituency.
And if at least 10 per cent of voters sign up, he will lose his seat and have to fight another by-election.
Hence then, the article about police dispute farage claim clacton count wasn t safe for him here are the facts was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Police dispute Farage claim Clacton count wasn’t safe for him. Here are the facts )
Also on site :
- She’s Gone From Indie Rocker to Unlikely Pop Star. Now She’s Back With Her First Album Since the Big Change.
- Three Bills to Reform Insurance Claims Abuses and Help Homeowners Keep Their Insurance Pass Final Committee, Head to CA Assembly Floor, Says Consumer Watchdog
- 1994 Rock Ballad, About Love Gone Wrong, Is Suddenly Going Viral 29 Years After the Singer’s Tragic Death at Age 30