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Nigel Farage says police advised him not to attend Clacton by-election count but officers say otherwise

Nigel Farage's decision not to accept his win in the Clacton by-election was branded 'extraordinary' given he was responsible for triggering the race with his resignation in July

[Nigel Farage did not attend the by-election count, instead responding to the result at a private event]

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Nigel Farage did not attend the by-election count, instead responding to the result at a private event(Image: Thomas Krych/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)

Nigel Farage's claim he was advised not to attend the Clacton by-election count due to a "credible threat" against him appears to have unravelled after Essex Police said otherwise.

The Reform UK leader's decision not to accept his win in the contest, in which he beat main rival Count Binface with 22,239 votes, was branded "extraordinary" given he was responsible for triggering the race with his resignation in July. It is the first time a victorious candidate has missed the election count since imprisoned IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands did so in 1981.

Mr Farage instead responded to the result of the by-election - which cost taxpayers an estimated 250,000 - at a private event in the constituency, where GB News was the only media outlet present.

At the event, dubbed 'Farage Fest' by Reform, he said he'd been advised by Essex Police that there was "an organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result". He also said he'd be "damned if Im going to stand on a stage... and be demeaned and humiliated by nobodies".

But police cast doubt over his excuses, with the force in Essex this morning saying there were no incidents or issues regarding the Clacton by-election on Thursday or overnight, and the decision of whether candidates attend the election count is for individuals and their security teams. The by-election's acting returning officer Ian Davidson echoed that it is "a candidates decision whether or not to attend the count".

[Nigel Farage's main rival in the Clacton by-election was parody candidate Count Binface]

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Nigel Farage's main rival in the Clacton by-election was parody candidate Count Binface(Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

Labour chair Bridget Phillipson savaged Mr Farage's absence at the by-election count. Asked about parliamentary processes - including attending the count - as being part of "democracy", she told LBC on Friday morning: It absolutely is, and not only is it democracy, it's a by-election that he was responsible for forcing. So to suggest that somehow it's beneath him to share a stage with other candidates, I find quite, you know, quite frankly, extraordinary. We've had this ludicrous spectacle now of weeks of Farage chasing a bin around Clacton.

He's now won the by-election, credit to him. But there's no escaping the very serious questions he now has to answer. This distraction, this farce, has been a means of deflecting from the very serious questions he needs to now answer about this 5million dodgy gift. Critics had branded the by-election a stunt and a gimmick to avoid scrutiny over a 5million gift he received before the 2024 general election.

Ms Phillipson added that police were used to dealing with high-profile situations but it was hard to know what had happened that meant Mr Farage did not show up at the count.

She said: Well, of course, the safety of politicians is of the utmost importance and no-one should face threats or intimidation because of who they are and the job that theyre seeking to do.... I dont know exactly whats gone on here, but like you, Ive heard what the police have had to say, that theyve pushed back a bit on on that suggestion, and I know that Nigel Farage is facing some criticism, even from within his own ranks, that hes not, wasnt, prepared to be at the count."

Speaking at an event in Clacton ahead of the result being announced, Mr Farage said: Im sad to say that after 33 years of being a candidate in active politics, Ive 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.

Once again it shows you the sheer intolerance, the sheer loss of fundamental democratic principles that those that went before us, fought in world wars, to fight for and preserve.

He added to supporters: Im not scared of these people, far from it. But Im damned if Im going to stand on a stage, having won a resounding victory, a ringing endorsement of all that Ive tried to fight for, and youve tried to fight for, and be demeaned and humiliated by nobodies, and I will not sadly be attending the count.

But a spokesman for Essex Police said it had "a full and robust policing operation in place around the Clacton by-election", with officers visible throughout polling day, on foot, in vehicles and with a drone team patrolled by air.

The statement continued: Our aim was to ensure the people of Clacton were able to go about their daily business, that people were able to cast their vote safely and that the count took place without issue. We are pleased to say all of these things happened and there were no incidents or issues throughout yesterday and into the early hours of this morning.

"We worked closely with Tendring District Council and their security teams throughout. We take the safety and security of our elected officials extremely seriously and, equally, we take our policing responsibilities around the democratic process seriously too.

"The decision of candidates to attend or not attend the election count is a decision for individuals and their security teams, our role is to make sure our policing operation is sufficiently robust to ensure the safety of all, and we are grateful to all of our officers, staff and the staff at Tendring District Council who worked through the night to ensure the safety of all.

Clacton by-election acting returning officer Ian Davidson said he did not know that Mr Farage would not attend the count until the Reform UK leader announced in a speech to his supporters elsewhere in Essex.

Overnight, he said: We have worked closely with Essex Police colleagues to ensure the election process is completed safely and securely, as is evident from the level of security we have in place here today.

This includes a robust policing operation throughout the day and including at the count. It is a candidates decision whether or not to attend the count. He continued: However I want to reassure people we have no reason not to proceed with the count process at this time.

A spokesman for Reform UK said: Essex Police advised Nigel not to attend the count tonight due to a credible threat against him.

Reform's Richard Tice on Friday morning appeared to say it was Mr Farage's security team who judged there was sufficient anxiety, concern and threats. He said: Ultimately, it was judged by Nigels team that there was there was sufficient anxiety, and concern, and threats, that meant that whilst of course he would love to have been at the count, ultimately his security counts for more than anything else, and I dont think anybody, frankly, should in any way question his teams judgment on that.

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