A party to mark Nigel Farage’s by-election victory in Clacton took place without the local council’s permission.
The invitation-only mini-festival on Great Oakley Airfield in Essex, nicknamed “Clacton-bury” or “Farage Fest” featured live music, alcohol and a Ferris wheel.
It was the only place the Reform UK leader spoke on the night, as the Clacton MP declined to attend the official vote count.
Now, Tendring District Council has confirmed a late temporary event notice (LTEN) submitted for the event was refused because it missed the deadline.
A counter-notice was subsequently served and no authorisation was granted for the party, which, if the council decides to prosecute, could lead to fines for the organisers.
Tendring District Council’s Lisa Hastings told The Telegraph: “We can confirm that an LTEN was submitted in relation to an event on Thursday, August 13, at Great Oakley Airfield.
“This notice was refused, and a counter-notice served, as it was not submitted within the statutory timescales required under the Licensing Act 2003. No authorisation was therefore granted under a LTEN for the event.
“As the matter may now involve potential enforcement considerations, Tendring district council is unable to comment further on any ongoing or potential investigations by licensing or other council departments.”
Mr Farage won the Clacton by-election, which no other major party contested | REFORM UK
Under the council’s licencing rules, a standard temporary event notice must be submitted at least 10 clear working days before an event.
However, a late temporary event notice can be lodged between five and nine clear working days beforehand.
Invitations were sent out to supporters of Reform UK in the Clacton constituency, who paid an entry fee, while camping and parking at the airfield were offered free of charge.
A Reform spokesman said it was “confident that no rules were broken” regarding the event.
Nigel Farage was absent from the vote declaration | REUTERS
The Clacton by-election was boycotted by the other main Westminster parties, who dismissed it as a political stunt as Mr Farage continues to come under fire over an undeclared £5million gift from donor and crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne.
The Reform UK leader comfortably won his seat with 22,239 votes.
Mr Farage’s main competitor was Count Binface, who came second with 9,455 votes, giving the Reform leader a majority of 12,784 and 62.82 per cent of the vote.
This is up from his 8,405-vote majority and 46.2 per cent when he won at the 2024 general election, with turnout down by just over 14 per cent at 44.37 per cent.
Tim Montgomerie was suspended from the party after criticising Mr Farage and Mr Yusuf
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TIM MONTGOMERIE/X
Mr Farage was also criticised by now-suspended party member Tim Montgomerie for snubbing the vote count.
The founder of Conservative Home hit out at the party leader for his “aggrieved tone” and suggested he needed a “much better explanation” to “skip” the by-election.
He had also criticised Reform’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf, telling a Spectator podcast on Tuesday he “cannot behave like a child in politics”.
Mr Farage claimed he had been advised by police to stay away from the Clacton count due to a “credible threat” against him.
However, Essex Police said there were “no incidents or issues” in relation to the contest, and decisions on whether to attend the declaration were for individual candidates and their security teams.
Pressed on whether Reform UK could be seen as thin-skinned following Mr Montgomerie’s suspension, Mr Tice, the party’s deputy leader, said: “Far from it.”