Nigel Farage wins the Clacton by-election for Reform UK but does not attend the vote count and result declaration. Several outlets report he says he was advised against attending due to safety concerns, and that he had already claimed victory earlier in the evening.
Different reports describe what led to his decision. The Manchester Evening News says Essex Police advised Farage there is “an organised campaign” to disrupt or “degrade” the result, while Farage presents it as a warning tied to threats against him. The Guardian reports an acting returning officer, Ian Davidson, says the count proceeds under a “robust policing operation” and that the council works closely with Essex Police. Left Foot Forward reports Essex Police dispute Farage’s claim that officers told him not to attend the count.
Overall, outlets agree Farage wins the seat and stays away from the count, but they differ in emphasis on the nature of the alleged threat and whether police explicitly told him not to be there.
