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9h ago

Farage Re‑elected in Clacton After Boycotted By‑Election

Reopened standards proceedings over a £5 million undeclared gift could lead to a suspension, triggering a recall petition, a fresh by‑election.

Clacton by-election candidates, including Count Binface. (Dan Kitwood/Getty)
(COMBO) This combination of file photos created on August 10, 2026 shows then-London mayoral candidate Count Binface (L) posing for a photo on College Green beside the Palace of Westminster in London on April 25, 2024; and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (R) speaking during the inaugural Conservative Political Action Conference Great Britain in south-east London on July 17, 2026. Hard-right UK politician Nigel Farage will be fighting for his parliamentary seat in snap polls on August 13, 2026, going head-to-head with parody candidate Count Binface in a snap election. The by-election was called after Farage, leader of the anti-immigration Reform UK party, resigned last month as MP for Clacton-on-Sea. (Photo by Henry Nicholls / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH Britain-politics-vote,ADVANCER by Jo Biddle and Theodore Griffin
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been re-elected in his Clacton seat (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty Images)
Nigel Farage before casting his vote during the Clacton By-election (Photo: Henry Nicholls / AFP via Getty Images)

Overview

  • Mr Farage won the Clacton seat with 22,239 votes and a 12,784 majority on a turnout of 44.37% in the contest held Friday.
  • He did not attend the official declaration, saying he had been advised to stay away because of a “credible threat,” a claim made by Reform UK that Essex Police have publicly disputed.
  • The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has resumed an inquiry into whether Farage failed to register a £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne, a probe that was paused when he resigned and reopened on his return.
  • Under Commons rules a suspension of at least 10 sitting days would trigger a local recall petition that requires 10% of electors to sign for a vacancy and a further by‑election.
  • Major Westminster parties declined to stand, producing a record 34‑candidate ballot in which novelty candidate Count Binface finished second with 9,455 votes and leaving Clacton facing the real prospect of being asked to vote again.