Nigel Farage beats Count Binface to return as MP but refuses to attend result

Clacton by-election result as Nigel Farage beats Count Binface but refuses to attend Nigel Farage managed not to lose to a bin after his Clacton by-election 'stunt' turned into a humilating debacle but refused to attend the declaration - saying there was a plan to 'disrupt and degrade' the proceedings Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election that cost taxpayers £250,000. The under-fire Reform UK leader picked up 22,239 votes in the Clacton by-election, ensuring he will return as the constituency's MP. His main rival, parody candidate Count Binface, was backed by tens of thousands of voters with a turnout of just over 44.4 percent. But there was early-morning drama as Mr Farage announced he would not be attending the result declaration - becoming the first successful candidate not to do so since imprisoned IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands in 1981. He told activists he had been made aware of plans to "disrupt and degrade" the proceedings. He said he would not be "devalued and humiliated by nobodies" - instead opting to spend the night at a 'Farage Fest' with celebrating activists. A planned speech due to be delivered at 10.30am was also scrapped, but no reason was given. Nevertheless the count continued, with acting returning officer Ian Davidson telling staff: "There is no issue in terms of us completing the count tonight." Mr Farage instead spent the night partying several miles from the count surrounded by partying supporters. No media was invited to that event, apart from GB News - the network he hosts a show on. Binface, who did attend the count, said he was "flattered" that Reform had put so much resource into beating him. The by-election - which Mr Farage claimed was a battle between "the people" and "the establishment" - turned into an embarrassing debacle after all major parties decided not to take part, dismissing it as a circus. He was being investigated by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner over an undeclared £5million 'gift' from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. That investigation is expected to reopen when he returns to the Commons. Referring to reports that Reform was forced to divert resources away from the Greater Manchester mayoral election after the ill-advised Clacton contest was triggered, Count Binface said: "I mean, they lost that one 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 asked what he would consider a good result, Binface said: "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. "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." He also pointed to polling by More In Common which found 37% of Brits wanted him to win the seat, with only 32% backing Mr Farage. In a speech to supporters at the 'Farage Fest' - which boasted a ferris wheel, DJs and several fire pits - the Reform leader said: "I've been advised tonight by Essex Police that there is an organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result that will take place in a few hours time." As a result he said he would not be attending. But he did crow that he had won a decisive victory - but this will be a hard sell to the wider public as allegations of sleaze continue to swirl. Labour Party 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 spokesperson 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." Follow our blog for the latest by-election updates by clicking here.