Counting is now underway for the Clacton by-election, with Nigel Farage set to learn his fate in what he has billed a “people vs establishment” poll.
Turnout has been confirmed at 43 per cent, meaning around 34,000 Britons have voted – though that’s a lower number than the turnout at the last General Election.
The Reform UK leader resigned as an MP to trigger the contest at the start of July amid a probe by the parliamentary standards commissioner over a £5million gift which he received before taking his seat in the Commons.
Under Commons rules, new MPs are required to register any gifts worth more than £300 they received in the previous 12 months, except where the gift “could not be reasonably thought by others” to relate to their political activities.
That investigation was paused when Mr Farage resigned his seat, but will resume if he wins.
None of the other main Westminster parties stood candidates to take part in this contest, with Mr Farage one of 34 people – largely independents – standing instead.
Among those to contest the seat is satirical candidate Count Binface, whose real name is Jonathan Harvey – an Oxford-educated comedy writer.
We’re expecting the results from Thursday’s vote to roll in between 5am and 7am – so stick with us for live updates and coverage overnight.
FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT…
Clacton election chief outlines ‘challenges’ after record 34 candidates stand
Ian Davidson, the acting returning officer and the chief executive at Tendring council, has said he had been forced to take on more staff at the count and had put double counting tables in place in order to cover all the votes for Clacton’s record 34 candidates.
Mr Davidson told Sky News the overall by-election had cost about £250,000 – which Reform UK had offered to fund, but had its offer turned down.
He said: “Some of the challenges have been including postal votes, because getting that amount in, so sending them out to the postal voters, then envelopes to be able to return them.
“Then we’ve had to put double tables on, as you can see here, more staff to be able to manage the process through, and actually the cost of the ballot papers has been about four times as much as it was in the general election because of the sheer increase in size.”
Reform UK’s Gawain Towler outlines conditions for ‘big win’ in Clacton
Gawain Towler, the long-time Nigel Farage ally who now sits on Reform’s board, has outlined the conditions for what will mark a “big win” tonight in Clacton.
With around 34,300 votes cast, Mr Farage needs just under 62 per cent to beat his 2024 total of 21,225 votes, Mr Towler said.
“Given Survation had him at 73 per cent, and others him at 69 per cent, that’s a low bar. Anything above 62 per cent tonight is a big win.”
Provisional turnout CONFIRMED in Clacton
The provisional turnout for today’s by-election is approximately 43 per cent, acting returning officer Ian Davidson said.
The exact final figure will be confirmed after verification of the ballots has been completed.
But the provisional turnout figure is down 15 per cent on the 2024 General Election turnout in the constituency – where Nigel Farage won with 46.2 per cent of the vote.
Conservatives claim by-election is ‘fake’ after failing to stand candidate
After polls in Clacton closed this evening, a spokesman for the Conservatives reiterated the party’s position that the by-election was “fake”.
“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,” he bristled.
The party said the same when Mr Farage stepped down from the seat on July 7, triggering the by-election.
But when it had to face off against Reform UK in 2024, its vote share sunk by a staggering 44 per cent – taking in fewer than a third of all votes.
Labour claims Nigel Farage beseiged by ‘mountain of scandals’ – 27 days after ousting its own party leader
Labour has said Nigel Farage cannot “run from the truth forever” after the Clacton by-election closed at 10pm.
Bridget Phillipson, the party’s chairwoman, said Mr 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”.
She added: “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.”
Labour’s own leader was forced to step down following Andy Burnham’s by-election victory in Makerfield just weeks ago – and it has only been 27 days since Andy Burnham took over.
His time in No10 has now been plunged into crisis amid growing rows over releasing violent criminals onto Britain’s streets and scattering asylum seekers in military bases and Home Office housing across the nation.
RECAP: Catch up with all of GB News’ Thursday coverage from Clacton here
Today’s live blog from Clacton has now closed. To read through GB News’ comprehensive coverage across the day, click the link below.
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