Farage wins in Clacton as police dispute ‘credible threat’ claim at count

Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election but failed to turn up at the count after claiming there was a “credible threat” against him. The Reform UK leader did not take his place beside closer challenger Count Binface as the result was declared on Friday morning - but his claim of security issues was disputed by Essex police. Reform UK gained 22,239 votes, compared to Count Binface's 9,455. Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems boycotted the by-election. Mr Farage pre-empted the official declaration by telling supporters he had won “fairly convincingly” and the result on the hottest day of the year was an “overwhelming endorsement” of him. However he said he would not attend the official declaration of the result at Clacton Leisure Centre as Essex Police had told him about an “orga