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1h ago

Farage Wins Clacton By-Election

The result restores Farage to Parliament, with the parliamentary standards probe resumed, potentially triggering a recall petition that could lead to a second by-election.

Clacton by-election candidates, including Count Binface. (Dan Kitwood/Getty)
(COMBO) This combination of file photos created on August 10, 2026 shows then-London mayoral candidate Count Binface (L) posing for a photo on College Green beside the Palace of Westminster in London on April 25, 2024; and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (R) speaking during the inaugural Conservative Political Action Conference Great Britain in south-east London on July 17, 2026. Hard-right UK politician Nigel Farage will be fighting for his parliamentary seat in snap polls on August 13, 2026, going head-to-head with parody candidate Count Binface in a snap election. The by-election was called after Farage, leader of the anti-immigration Reform UK party, resigned last month as MP for Clacton-on-Sea. (Photo by Henry Nicholls / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH Britain-politics-vote,ADVANCER by Jo Biddle and Theodore Griffin
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been re-elected in his Clacton seat (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty Images)
Nigel Farage before casting his vote during the Clacton By-election (Photo: Henry Nicholls / AFP via Getty Images)

Overview

  • Nigel Farage regained the Clacton seat with 22,239 votes and a majority of about 12,784 after a by-election held on Friday.
  • Farage did not attend the official count, saying he had been advised of a credible threat, a claim Essex Police publicly disputed while confirming a robust policing operation at the count.
  • The contest featured a record 34 candidates and a turnout of roughly 44.4 percent, with novelty candidate Count Binface finishing second on about 9,455 votes.
  • The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has reopened an investigation into an undeclared £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne, which resumed automatically when Farage returned to the Commons.
  • If the commissioner finds breaches and MPs suspend Farage for more than 10 sitting days, a local recall petition requiring 10 percent of eligible voters would be triggered and could force another by-election.