Clacton by-election result live: Nigel Farage says he won’t attend count and be ‘humiliated by nobodies’

Clacton by-election result live: Nigel Farage says he won’t attend count and be ‘humiliated by nobodies’ The Reform UK leader triggered the contest after deciding to stand down amidst massive scrutiny over his financial affairs - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Counting is underway in the Clacton by-election, but Nigel Farage has said he will not attend the result declaration to be “humiliated by nobodies”. Thousands of residents turned out to determine whether the Reform UK leader retains his seat in a contest triggered after he resigned amid scrutiny over his finances. The contest has been boycotted by the major parties, leaving Count Binface – a satirical character who has pledged to abolish VAR in football and “nationalise Adele” – as his main rival. The result is not expected until early on Friday morning after a record number of candidates stood in the by-election. Reform UK said its leader would not attend the count due to advice from Essex Police about a threat against him, and he told supporters: "I am damned if I am going to stand on a stage, having won a resounding victory.... and be demeaned and humiliated by nobodies." However, Essex Police said it had "robust" policing in place at the count and that it did not tell any candidate not to attend. Results expected imminently It’s almost 6am in Clacton and we are expecting the results of the by-election to be declared immediately. The candidates have gathered and the press are heading to the floor to hear the declaration. Essex Police 'did not advise any candidates to avoid count' Nigel Farage claimed victory in the Clacton by-election but said he would not go to the count because of what Reform UK said was a “credible threat” against him. A Reform UK spokesperson later said: “Essex Police advised Nigel not to attend the count tonight due to a credible threat against him.” However, according to the Press Association, Essex Police did not tell Mr Farage, or any other candidate, not to attend the count. A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “We have a proportionate and robust policing operation to ensure the safety and security of all participants in the count.” Live: Counting continues in Clacton by-election for Farage vs. Count Binface showdown Farage shuns Clacton by-election count after advice from Essex Police Nigel Farage has said he will not attend the Clacton by-election count after advice from Essex Police about a plot to embarrass him on stage during the announcement of the result. The Reform UK leader pre-empted the official announcement of the result of the by-election by telling supporters he had secured more votes than when he won the seat at the 2024 general election. Mr Farage called the result a “convincing, overwhelming win” that would surpass the 21,225 votes he received just two years ago. However, speaking at a “Farage Fest” event in Essex, organised by Reform UK, that he would dodge the traditional declaration of the results after being given notice of an “organised campaign” to “disrupt and degrade the result”. Acting returning officer Ian Davidson said it was Mr Farage’s decision “whether or not to attend the count”. Clacton official says did not know Farage would not attend count Clacton by-election acting returning officer Ian Davidson said he did not know that Nigel Farage would not attend the count until the Reform UK leader announced in a speech to his supporters elsewhere in Essex. A spokesperson for Reform UK said: “Essex Police advised Nigel not to attend the count tonight due to a credible threat against him.” Essex Police said: “The Tendring District Council press office have a statement from the returning officer, Ian Davidson, relating to this so if you contact them they should be able to assist.” Farage pays tribute to Widdecombe Nigel Farage referred earlier to the late Ann Widdecombe, a former Brexit Party MEP colleague who later joined Reform UK and acted as a spokesperson. She had previously been a Home Office minister in Sir John Major’s Conservative government in the 1990s. “I also want us to remember, in a solemn moment, the fact that yesterday was the funeral of Ann Widdecombe. God bless her. “Murdered for having her own deep Christian convictions. “Murdered for being a supporter of Reform, murdered by an intolerance that has now swept through the entire left-wing politics of Britain, and is aided, abetted and incited every day by broadcasters and national newspapers.” Clacton would ‘stick two fingers up to the political establishment’ says Farage In a speech claiming victory, Nigel Farage said the result in Clacton would “stick two fingers up to the political establishment”, as he said the size of his victory would vindicate his resignation and decision to stand in a by-election. He said: “The verdict is now in, and it is a convincing, overwhelming win with more votes than we got in the General Election of 2024. “In doing so we have beaten the candidate for the ‘uni-party’. Yes there were Liberal Democrats, Labour, Conservative canvassers out canvassing for Count Binface. What an upside-down world it is, where Count Binface is now the candidate of the establishment.” He added: “Today the voters in Clacton have stuck up two fingers to the entire political establishment.” Clacton official says count has ‘robust policing operation’ amid Farage’s claims Acting returning officer for the by-election, chief executive of Tendring District Council Ian Davidson said he would not comment on security matters, but said there was a “robust policing operation” in place. The statement came as Nigel Farage said he would not attend the count at Clacton Leisure Centre as Essex Police had told him about an “organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result”. Mr Davidson told the count: “We work very closely with Essex Police and have done so throughout this process, and continue to do so tonight, and we will be continuing the count, as we always do, in a safe and secure manner.” In a later statement, Mr Davidson said: “We have worked closely with Essex Police colleagues to ensure the election process is completed safely and securely, as is evident from the level of security we have in place here today. “This includes a robust policing operation throughout the day and including at the count.“It is a candidate’s decision whether or not to attend the count. “However I want to reassure people we have no reason not to proceed with the count process at this time.” Count Binface: 'We'll be back here in a few weeks' Count Binface - Nigel Farage’s main competitor in Clacton - has hit out at the Reform UK’s leader to call a by-election. Mr Farage resigned as the constituency’s MP amid questions over his financial affairs. But he has drawn criticism over his decision to force a by-election whilst he was under investigation from the parliamentary standards watchdog over a £5m donation he received from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, which he failed to declare. If a serious fault is found, they will propose a sanction against Farage, and if it is penalty is a suspension from the Commons of 10 working days or more, a recall petition becomes possible in Clacton meaning a second by-election could happen in weeks. Speaking to Sky News, Count Binface said: “Well, in that case, it's going to be a two-legged match like the Carabao Cup or the Cold War, because we're going to be back again in a few weeks, aren't we? We will see what happens then.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments