Farage will not attend count over plans to ‘disrupt result’
Farage said police warned of a credible threat as he claimed a convincing win and said the vote drew 34 candidates.
- On Friday, the Clacton by-election count began at Clacton Leisure Centre, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claiming he won "fairly convincingly" while avoiding the event citing security concerns.
- Following intense scrutiny of his financial affairs, Farage resigned as MP last month, triggering the by-election after investigations into undisclosed gifts including a £5 million donation from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne.
- A record 34 candidates contested the seat, requiring 90cm-long ballot papers and larger tables at the count. Acting Returning Officer Ian Davidson confirmed a provisional turnout of 43 percent.
- Farage claimed victory against the "establishment," yet declined to attend the count after Essex Police warned him of an "organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result."
- Results are expected between 5am and 7am as the count continues at an estimated cost of £250,000 to taxpayers, with an electorate of around 75,000 awaiting the outcome.
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79 Articles
Farage Beats a Bin
Farage is victorious in his valiant quest to wrest control of Clacton-On-Sea from the clutches of an intergalactic bin! So why didn’t he show up to celebrate? Plus: Ed Milliband breaks back into the climate debate as wildfires cause hospitalizations & property damage in the Midlands. With Michael Walker & Banseka Kayembe.
Nigel Farage, the leader of the far-right Reform UK party, seemed to find his election campaign so humiliating that he didn't even come to say thank you, writes Britain correspondent Kirsi Crowley.
United Kingdom: National populist Nigel Farage wins by-election in Clacton – and skipped the announcement of the result
Readers slam Farage’s Clacton no-show as police dispute ‘threat’
Our readers aren’t buying Reform’s explanation for Nigel Farage’s no-show at the count – and with the donations investigation reopened within hours of his win, many say the real story is only just beginning
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