Key facts
- Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election.
- Farage will not attend the election count due to a police warning.
- The election was triggered by Farage's resignation amid questions over undeclared donations.
- Farage claimed a 'resounding victory' and an 'overwhelming endorsement'.
Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, has won the Clacton by-election, securing a new mandate after abruptly resigning his parliamentary seat last month. Farage announced his victory to supporters but stated he would not attend the official count due to a police warning about an 'organised campaign to disrupt and degrade' the result. He described the win as a 'resounding victory' and an 'overwhelming endorsement'. The election was triggered amid scrutiny over undeclared donations, including a significant sum from a wealthy backer. Farage faced a field of 33 opponents, including the comedian Count Binface, in a race seen as a test of his populist politics. Some voters had expressed concerns that the by-election was making Clacton a 'laughing stock'.