Farage wins Clacton by-election but skips count as police contradict Reform's threat claim

Nigel Farage won the Clacton by-election on 14 August 2026 with 63% of the vote, increasing his majority to 12,784. He did not attend the declaration. A Reform UK spokesperson said Essex Police advised him not to attend due to a credible threat. The BBC reported that Essex Police did not advise any candidate not to attend.