Nigel Farage has won the Clacton byelection, defeating novelty candidate Count Binface and 32 others in a contest that every other major political party boycotted.
Key facts
- Nigel Farage won the Clacton byelection, according to the Guardian.
- His nearest challenger was novelty candidate Count Binface, with 32 other candidates also standing.
- Every other major political party boycotted the contest.
- Farage triggered the byelection in July amid a scandal over a £5m gift.
- Farage did not appear for the result, the Guardian reported.
Nigel Farage has won the Clacton byelection, seeing off novelty candidate Count Binface in a contest that every other major political party boycotted, according to the Guardian.
The Reform UK leader triggered the byelection himself in July, in what the Guardian described as an attempt to shake off a deepening scandal over a £5m gift he received from the cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne.
Farage beat his nearest challenger, Count Binface, as well as 32 other candidates who stood in the contest, the Guardian reported.
Despite winning, Farage did not appear for the result, according to the Guardian.
The boycott by every other main party meant the contest lacked the usual field of established political challengers, leaving Farage to face a large but largely unconventional slate of candidates.
Why it matters
A byelection boycotted by all other major parties is highly unusual and raises questions about accountability when an incumbent triggers a contest to address a personal scandal. The result keeps Farage in place while the controversy over the £5m gift remains unresolved.
Frequently asked questions
Why was the Clacton byelection held?
According to the Guardian, Nigel Farage triggered the byelection in July in an attempt to shake off a deepening scandal over a £5m gift he received from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne.
Who did Farage beat in the byelection?
The Guardian reported that Farage's nearest challenger was novelty candidate Count Binface, and that he beat 32 other candidates as well.
Did the other main parties take part?
No. The Guardian reported that every other major political party boycotted the contest.