- After 34 days of campaigning, the leader of Reform UK declined to attend the count in Clacton to hear himself declared the winner and MP.
- Instead, Farage attended a gathering at an airfield billed as “Farage Fest”, telling fans he would not be “demeaned and humiliated by nobodies” after a “resounding victory.”
- Farage claimed Essex police advised him of a “credible threat”, but police denied giving such advice.
- A party spokesperson, Anderson, defended Farage's absence, calling it a principled choice to spend time with supporters.
- A candidate named Count Binface declared on social media that he came first among candidates who attended the results.
- Binface claimed he got 10,000% more votes against Farage than against Andy Burnham, and noted that over one in four constituents preferred him to the Reform UK leader.
- The election was estimated to have cost the public purse £250,000, and a voter wrote on the 90cm-long ballot paper (the longest in UK history): ‘What a disgraceful waste of money.’
Nigel Farage skipped the Clacton count after 34 days of campaigning, choosing to attend a celebratory event dubbed ‘Farage Fest’ instead. His absence raised eyebrows as he was declared the winner with 22,239 votes (63.34%) amidst a 44% turnout.12
Farage's decision not to attend the count was attributed to advice from Essex police regarding a supposed threat against him, although police later denied giving such advice. Farage expressed disdain for the count, stating he would not be “demeaned and humiliated by nobodies.”3
In a twist, Count Binface, an independent candidate, claimed victory among those present, securing 9,455 votes (26.93%). He humorously noted that he received “10,000% more votes” than in a previous election against Andy Burnham, suggesting that over one in four voters preferred him over Farage. Binface's candidacy was part of a lengthy ballot that included numerous parody candidates, leading to a disgruntled voter remarking on the election's cost of £250,000 to the public purse.5678
The election's outcome and Farage's absence have sparked discussions about the implications for his party and the electoral process in the UK.
“Farage claimed Essex police warned of a 'credible threat,' but police denied giving such advice. The election cost the public purse £250,000, and a voter wrote on the 90cm-long ballot paper: 'What a disgraceful waste of money.'”
The Guardian
