Clacton by-election result live: Nigel Farage refuses to attend by-election result as statement issued

Clacton by-election result live: Nigel Farage refuses to attend by-election result as statement issued Nigel Farage announced he would become the first successful Parliamentary candidate in over 40 years to miss his victory declaration, instead partying with supporters at an invite-only 'Farage Fest' Nigel Farage will become the first successful Parliamentary candidate in over 40 years to miss his victory declaration. The Reform UK leader, who has been locked in a humiliating showdown with Count Binface for more than a month, spent the night partying with activists at an invite-only 'Farage Fest' nearby. He told supporters Essex Police had told him of an "organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result that will take place in a few hours' time". A speech scheduled for later this morning has also been cancelled. It is the first time a victorious candidate has missed the election count since imprisoned IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands did so in 1981. Despite Mr Farage's comments the count continued, with staff told there was "no issue" with continuing. Binface, who was present, told The Mirror he was "flattered" by how hard Reform had campaigned in order to beat him. The vote - expected to cost the taxpayer more than £250,000 - was triggered by the Reform chief quitting as an MP earlier this summer. He was facing a Commons probe into the failure to declare a £5million gift he received from Thai-based crypto billionaire, Christopher Harborne, ahead of the 2024 general election. He attempted to frame the contest as a "people versus the establishment" showdown. But he was left embarrassed as his political stunt backfired last month, with all major parties boycotting the contest, which they dismissed as a circus. As well as Count Binface, he also faced three candidates from the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, and an array of independents. The result of the contest is expected after 5am on Friday morning. Follow all the latest updates below Key Events Results are now expected imminently in the Clacton by-election - candidates are lining up on stage, where they are to be announced. Journalist and author Michael Crick is speaking about the election on Sky News, and just said Farage has been recently inclined to avoid journalists where he might once have otherwise been keen to use them to advance his agenda. Mr Crick described him as "running scared", saying: "He's running away from the media in the way that other party leaders have also done in the past." Essex Police said it had “a proportionate and robust policing operation to ensure the safety and security of all participants” at Clacton, as it's understood the force did not advise anyone not to attend the count. A spokesperson for the service said: "We have a proportionate and robust policing operation to ensure the safety and security of all participants in the count." Mirror Political Correspondant Dave Burke writes in from the Clacton count... We've just been told the declaration is expected to come at 6am. That will be welcome news to the tired-looking journalists who have been hanging round the press room all night. The sheer number of candidates meant it's taken longer than usual to get through the pile of ballots. We all know Mr Farage will win, but it remains to be seen how much by, and how many votes Count Binface receives. Earlier there were pessimistic claims that we could be waiting until 8am until we knew the result. Count Binface has said the competitors at the Clacton by-election could return in just a few weeks, with the Parliamentary watchdog set to restart its investigation into his £5 million gift if he returns to the House of Commons today. If he is found at serious fault over the gift, from billionaire Christopher Harbonne, and is suspeded from the Commons, a recall petition could force yet another by-election. Speaking to Sky News, he 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.” Nigel Farage has cancelled a speech later this morning. The Reform UK leader had been due to share his thoughts on the contest at 10.30am. But the party has now confirmed this will not go ahead. It has not said the reason, but pointed out that Mr Farage has already commented on the expected results of the by-election. I've just had a chat with one of the best known politicians on this - and any other - planet. Count Binface has been holding court above the counting floor as he reflects on a by-election campaign like no other. Does he think Nigel Farage is running scared of him, I ask. According to reports activists were reassigned from Greater Manchester to Clacton to avoid the embarrassment of an upset, and Mr Farage has been campaigning hard. "Good question," he replies. "I mean, they lost that one (the Greater Manchester Mayoral election), didn't they? So maybe he knew that he needed to divert his resources, like one of those World War II movies I'm sure he enjoys. "So yes, I mean, whether he's scared of me, you need to ask Nigel that, but I have noticed just how hard Reform have been campaigning against an alien space warrior with a Ceefax fetish who only eight weeks ago scored 0.2% in Makerfield. "So yeah, it's a curious... But I respect it, and I'm rather flattered." And what would make a good night for him and a bad night for Farage, I asked. "Well look, a single vote, one precious vote, imagine one human like you going into that voting booth, getting the stubby pencil out, and choosing Binface instead of Farage," he said. "Just give yourself a moment to think about that. Anybody deciding they would rather vote for me to be Member of Parliament than Nigel Farage is a win. "Now, you magnify that every single time there's an X for Binface and it mounts up, and it mounts up, and it mounts up. And I'll be interested to see the headlines you guys write with the number of people, percentage-wise, who make that decision." The count will continue in spite of the threat Nigel Farage says he's been made aware of, we're told. In an annoucement to staff, acting returning officer Ian Davidson said there is "no issue" in terms of completing the count. He said officials will ensure proceedings continue in a safe and secure manner. Mr Davidson said: "Thank you for our staff, and thank you for our visitors, and thank you for the press and public who have conducted themselves in an exemplary way tonight. "And we will continue to do so." He went on: "I will not comment on security matters, but I am going to say to you that working closely with Essex Police, and we've just had a further meeting, that there is no issue in terms of us completing the count tonight." Dave remains at the count in Clacton. In an update shortly after 3.30am he writes: "This is an incredible development in the Clacton by-election. "Nigel Farage has announced he will not attend the announcement of his own victory. "To be clear, this is extraordinary. The last time a winning Parliamentary candidate did not attend the count was back in 1981, when IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands did so - because he was in prison. "What is not immediately clear was whether Mr Farage had become aware of a threat to his security - or whether someone was planning to humiliate him. "From inside the building it is difficult to tell - there's not been any noticeable police or security activity at the count. But there's not to say there isn't something going on outside. "Journalists and officials - and other candidates - have not been made aware of any threats." Nigel Farage announced that Essex Police confirmed "there is an organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result that will take place in a few hours' time." He added: "I'm not scared of these people, far from it, but I'm damned if I'm going to stand on a stage having won a resounding victory, a ringing endorsement for all that I've tried to fight for, and you've tried to fight for, and be demeaned and humiliated by nobodies and I will not sadly be attending the count. Which means I'm going to be here all night." The Mirror has contacted Essex Police for comment. A total of 35,401 votes were cast in the by-election. Verification has been completed, and vote counting is fully under way. Count Binface was asked by LBC what he makes of Nigel Farage labeling him part of the establishment. Suffice to say he did not agree with that assessment. "Am I the establishment, really?" he responded. "On the one hand we have the former MP, former MEP, he's been a fixture of the British landscape in the last 20 years. He caused Brexit, which has made each of you absolutely poorer over the last 10 years. The country is in deep trouble. "And of course, he's also reputedly a member of the East India Gentlemen's Club, which I understand to this day does not admit women. "So is that the establishment, or is it a lone wolf space warrior with a Lovejoy fixation? You tell me." During an interview with GB News Nigel Farage was questioned about the parliamentary inquiry into the £5 million gift he received from Thailand-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. He said: "Who cares, the voters of Clacton don’t care." Verification of votes are nearly completed. Counting will soon take place. Counters will put the ballots into separate piles for Nigel Farage, Count Binface and other candidates. The Reform UK leader claimed in the last hour that he has won the contest. Speaking to our Sky News at the by-election count, Binface said in response: "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." Dave Burke was not invited to 'Farage Fest'. He said: "While the race between Nigel Farage and Count Binface unfolds in Clacton, a very different party is happening down the road. "Reform activists - it's unclear how many - are out in the Essex countryside celebrating 'Farage Fest'. "It will stun you to find out that The Mirror wasn't invited, and as far as the press pack at the count can tell, GB News was the only media allowed in. "The channel's Christopher Hope has been giving the lowdown - apparently there's a ferris wheel and a watch party for Mr Farage's 'people versus the establishment' contest." The man of the moment is here, reports Political Correspondent Dave Burke. While Reform UK hosts a 'Farage Fest' around the corner (surprisingly The Mirror wasn't invited), Count Binface has arrived. He's a veteran at this - he first stood in 2019, and has been on the ballot at two general elections, two London mayoral contests and two by-elections. In June he was one of the candidates in Makerfield when Andy Burnham returned to Parliament. The fact that he's Mr Farage's primary challenger is humiliating for the Reform chief, who will struggle to convince the world that this is anything other than an expensive farce. Although we're yet to hear official results, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has declared victory in the Clacton by-election, claiming he has won “fairly convincingly”. Asked if he thinks he has won, Farage told GB News: "Yes, fairly convincingly. I've managed to beat the establishment candidate." He added: “Look, this is an overwhelming endorsement of me. I have had enough of being judged by mainstream media, being called a criminal. “Do you know, if I made one sin, if I haven’t filled in a piece of paper, I’ve broken no law, I’ve broken no tax law, I’ve taken no public money, I don’t even own a motorhome. “Maybe I haven’t filled in a piece of paper. I’m confident that I’m right, we’ll see where we go. I put this to the people of Clacton, said ‘you decide my future’, and tonight they will.” Members of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party arrive at Clacton Leisure Centre: Reporting from the floor of Clacton Leisure Centre Dave Burke says: "We’ve just passed midnight and there’s no sign of Nigel Farage or Count Binface. "Agents for some of the candidates are strolling around the floor checking that all is as it should be. But this place is completely devoid of tension. "I was at the Makerfield by-election a few weeks ago, and this couldn’t feel any more different. That night in Greater Manchester it felt like there was actually something at stake, and that the result would have actually been repercussions. "This is Farage versus a bin. When he wins, the Reform leader will be back to where he started." The polls closed at 10pm and the result is not due to be declared until the early hours of Friday morning, between 5am and 7am. Results of the winner will be announced on the floor of Clacton Leisure Centre rather than the usual stage. This is because all the candidates cannot all fit on the stage. Photographers and TV cameras covering the count have even been advised by officials they will need a wide-angle lens to fit all the candidates into a single shot. Ian Davidson, the Acting Returning Officer and chief executive of Tendring District Council, says the authority has taken on more staff at the count. Mr Davidson said: "We have got counters who have been coming here for 20 years or more right through to young people who perhaps this might be their first one. "I say to our staff that it's an administrative role but also very much part of the democratic process. "It's also about understanding that the candidates might feel stressed. "It's quite a complex job that our counters do for understanding the stresses, but also doing the administrative role which has been compounded this time because it's the most unusual election because of the size of the ballot paper." Counters are beginning to verify the 3ft ballot papers in the Clacton by-election. Each ballot paper has to be unfurled, scanned for a cross next to any of 34 candidates, then the creases flattened before it is sorted into separate piles. All the ballot boxes are now in, we've just been told. They're now going through the process of being verified and counted. It's going to be a long time before we have a result. The optimists involved in the count are hoping for a 5am conclusion. But there have been whispers over the past few days that it could be as late as 7am or 8am. Neither the Tories nor Labour are impressed with Mr Farage's antics. You'll remember that he triggered this by-election in June while he was being investigated by the Parliamentary standards commissioner. This contest, he proclaimed, would prove that he's been victim of an establishment stitch-up and that he still has the backing of the people. If only Thomas Tuchel had been allowed to put the World Cup semi final to a vote rather than let the result play out. But anyway, as polls closed Labour chair Bridget Phillipson said: “Nigel Farage spent 38 days fighting a bin in his most desperate attempt yet to deflect attention from the sleaze and scandals engulfing him and his Party.“Farage may succeed in his run-off against a bin, but he can’t run from the truth forever. The list of unanswered questions about the £5 million gift he hid from the public, his support from a convicted fraudster, and the mountain of other scandals he and Reform are facing isn’t going away. In fact, it’s getting longer by the day. “It’s time to stop the excuses and desperate distractions and finally come clean with the public. If Farage has nothing to hide, he surely would have done so by now.” And a Tory spokesman said: "Nigel Farage called this fake by-election in a desperate attempt to draw a line under the questions surrounding his fishy £5 million donation. Whatever the outcome on Friday, this stunt has not done that."