Nigel Farage has retained the Clacton seat in a by-election, while a watchdog has reopened an investigation into an alleged failure to declare a £5 million donation from Reform UK donor Christopher Harborne. The result returns Farage to Parliament amid continued scrutiny of his financial affairs and questions over his absence from the count.

Farage received about 22,239 votes, ahead of Count Binface on 9,455, with major Westminster parties not fielding candidates after calling the contest a stunt. Farage said he stayed away because of a credible threat, but Essex Police said it had not advised any candidate not to attend and had robust policing in place. A planned speech in Clacton was later cancelled by Reform UK.