2 min read14 August
Nigel Farage will continue as the MP for Clacton after winning the by-election he triggered.
Farage secured a comfortable victory in the Essex constituency, winning around 63 per cent of the vote.
Novelty candidate Count Binface came second with 26 per cent of the vote.
Farage resigned as an MP and triggered the by-election in July amid growing pressure over a £5m donation he received from crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne weeks before announcing his intention to run in the 2024 general election.
His failure to declare the donation led to an investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog.
The investigation was paused while the by-election took place as Farage was no longer an MP.
However, the watchdog confirmed on Friday morning that it would resume now that the Reform leader is returning to the House of Commons.
It could result in suspension and another by-election if he is found to have broken the rules.
Speaking in July, Farage described Thursday’s by-election as “people versus the establishment”, adding that the “people of Clacton” would be “the judges” of his actions.
“It’s a chance to stick two fingers up to the entire establishment, to frankly tell them where to go, and that is why I will be putting my name forward to stand in this by-election,” he said.
A Farage victory in Clacton was widely regarded as almost certain despite his personal ratings taking a hit in recent weeks. The seaside town is often described as one of the most right-wing constituencies in the country and a major Reform stronghold.
Labour, the Conservatives and the other mainstream political parties announced early in the campaign that they would not stand candidates to go up against Farage, arguing that the by-election was unnecessary and a waste of money.
That left a long list of independent and novelty candidates, including Binface, whose policies included hosting Eurovision 2028 in Clacton and relocating Parliament to the Essex village of Weeley, the Monster Raving Looney Party and Everyone Is God Party.
