Jack Grey
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

As we slowly edge closer to a winner being declared in the Clacton by-election, here's a reminder of the previous Clacton result at the 2024 general election:

Reform, Nigel Farage - 21,225 votes (46.2%)

Conservative, Giles Watling - 12,820 votes (27.9%)

Labour, Jovan Owusu-Nepaul - 7,448 (16.2%)

Liberal Democrat, Matthew Bensilum - 2,016 (4.4%)

Green, Natasha Osben -1,935 (4.2%)

Harry Farley
Reporting from Clacton

The turnout has been confirmed at 44.37%.

That is higher than some recent by-elections, such as in Aberdeen South (38.0%) and Arbroath & Broughty Ferry (31.3%) and only slightly lower than the closely fought by-elections in Runcorn & Helsby (46.2%) and Gorton & Denton (47.5%).

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given its prominence, it is lower than in Makerfield where Andy Burnham made his return to Parliament. There the turnout was 52.5%.

Image source, Reuters

Jack Grey
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Count Binface's political journey began in 2017, before he had even donned the bin.

As "Lord Buckethead" - a character inspired by a Star Wars parody film - Jonathan Harvey contested the seat of then-prime minister Theresa May in Maidenhead at the 2017 general election - where he won 279 votes.

In 2019 he returned as Count Binface, with the new name and costume prompted by - in his own words - an "unpleasant battle on the planet copyright".

Since then:

• In 2019 he went up against Boris Johnson in Uxbridge and South Ruislip at the general election, winning 69 votes
• In 2021, Binface turned his attention away from Westminster, but not too far, running for London mayor and coming ninth in the first round with 24,775 votes
• In 2023, he returned to Uxbridge and South Ruislip, contesting the by-election triggered by Boris Johnson's resignation - this time taking home 190 votes
• In 2024 he had another crack at becoming London mayor, coming 11th with 24,260 votes
• It was a busy year for Binface, as later in 2024 he also faced his third sitting PM in the form of Rishi Sunak at in Richmond & Northallerton, winning 308 votes
• And most recently, earlier this year he competed against then-Greater Manchester mayor and now-Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Makerfield, where he took home 95 votes

Harry Farley
Reporting from Clacton

Nigel Farage is at a party dubbed "Farage Fest" for his supporters in the Essex countryside. And his team are sounding more and more confident about their margin of victory.

A Reform UK source tells the BBC: "If Nigel Farage wins by more votes tonight than he did in 2024 then his decision to call this by-election against the establishment will be vindicated."

In 2024 Farage won 21,225 votes. It sounds like Farage is confident that even though there’s a smaller total number of votes cast this time (in total), he’ll have won more than two years ago.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, PA Media

Count Binface says he takes being described as an "establishment candidate" by Nigel Farage as "in a way a compliment" following his 0.2% vote share in the Makerfield by-election earlier this year.

Speaking to BBC News, he says he would argue that "one of the chief architects of Brexit and one of the dominant figures in British politics over the last 20 years" is more of an establishment figure than "a lone wolf space warrior".

Asked what a good result would be tonight, he says: "One vote is special, 309 would be a Binface record, 5% I get my deposit back."

He adds that "after that it's up to you to crunch the numbers and work out what percentage of humans would rather elect an alien... than Nigel Farage".

Henry Godfrey-Evans
Reporting from Clacton

Candidate Glenn Cummings says he is just "starting out" on his political journey and would be satisfied with a single vote tonight.

"It would be embarrassing if someone said 'Glenn Charles Cummings zero votes', so as long as there's one that will do me just nicely," he tells me.

There has not been a parliamentary candidate who received zero votes in recent history.

"Maybe I do need that record actually because then it would be a first wouldn't it?" Cummings adds.

"Then I can build on it for next time. It would be a benchmark for next time."

Explaining his outfit, he says it describes his personality as a jogger and a raver.

Simon Dedman
Reporting from Clacton

Has there been an election campaign? The short answer is yes, even though the Nigel Farage hasn’t faced his main political party opponents.

Supporters of Nigel Farage and Reform members have flooded into the Clacton constituency to help. They have been going door-to-door to drum up support.

Reform’s turquoise logo is predominantly the only banner you see on wooden sticks outside houses. Some have Farage’s face haloed by the ferris wheel of Clacton pier on them.

Image source, EPA

Sprinkled through the constituency are some banners for other candidates. There was a large Count Binface display outside a property in Kirby Cross and a few Obama-style election posters of Binface with the word Hope underneath in some of the urban areas.

There was a hustings in which 14 of the 34 candidates standing took part, and there have been public meetings with some of the candidates addressing Clacton town centre with loud hailers.

We've also seen mailshots and leafleting.

But like Farage, for the candidate seen as his main challenger - Count Binface - it has been a social media battle.

With glossy, well-produced campaign videos and stunts like lighting up local landmarks with key policies such as 99 flake ice creams costing no more than 99p.

Image source, EPA

Asked about the parliamentary inquiry into the £5 million gift he received - which was suspended when he called the by-election - Farage asks GB News: "Who cares?"

"Who cares, the voters of Clacton don’t care," he says.

He adds that Count Binface, expected to be his closet rival in the vote, is "backed by the three biggest parties in Britain historically", claiming that Labour, Lib Dem and Conservative canvassers have been campaigning for him.

"They will not call a second by-election here, they’d be stupid to do so," he adds.

"This is an overwhelming endorsement of me, I have had enough of being judged by mainstream media, being called a criminal."

Asked if he will attend the count later this evening, he says "you’ll have to wait and see".

• Another by-election in Clacton is possible if Farage is eventually sanctioned by parliamentary authorities

Nigel Farage tells GB News that he has won the Clacton by-election “fairly convincingly”.

Speaking at a party put on for Reform UK volunteers in Clacton, Farage says: “I have managed to beat the establishment candidate.”

• As a reminder, votes are still being counted and a final result is expected in the coming hours.

Harry Farley
Reporting from Clacton

The turnout in this by-election - the proportion of eligible voters who cast their ballot - is higher than some had expected.

The initial estimate is around 43%. We’ll get the confirmed figure later.

But if that’s roughly right, it would only be slightly lower than the Runcorn & Helsby by-election (46.2%) which Reform UK won by six votes and the Gorton & Denton vote (47.5%) which the Green’s won.

It's also higher than the recent Aberdeen South by-election (38%) which the Conservatives won.

All of those campaigns were much more fiercely fought than this one.

Reform UK believe the turnout confirms their argument.

Image source, Reuters

"The fact that more people voted today than the local elections shows how the people of Clacton were motivated by the prospect of endorsing Nigel and how the Westminster establishment judged this by election completely wrong,” a Reform source tells me.

They believe Nigel Farage could win more votes tonight than he did in the general election, with fewer overall people voting. The obvious counter is this time he isn’t facing a challenge from any of the main political parties.

But we’re already seeing the shape of the arguments we’ll hear from Reform in the days to come.

Image source, Getty Images

The Conservatives, Labour, and other Westminster parties have declined to put a candidate forward in this election.

Here's what they have had to say about the contest:

• Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer described it as a "desperate stunt", while Andy Burnham's spokesperson called the Reform leader's resignation a "gimmick designed to distract from serious allegations about Farage's funders"
• Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Farage was "cracking under the pressure" because "he is finally having to face some scrutiny"
• Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called for all parties to "stand aside and refuse to give oxygen to Farage's vanity project"
• Green Party leader Zack Polanski called the Reform UK leader "a grifter", arguing Farage "knew he was heading towards a by-election anyway so has pulled the trigger early"
• Former Reform MP - now Restore leader - Rupert Lowe, said Farage is "making a mockery of our entire democratic process"

Nigel Farage’s decision to stand down as an MP and trigger a by-election in Clacton came as he was facing increasing scrutiny over his finances and a parliamentary investigation.

In early 2024, he received a £5m gift from billionaire cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne.

Farage has argued he did not need to declare the gift because he received it before he was elected as Clacton's MP in the summer of 2024.

Image source, Reuters

But Labour and other rival parties believe Farage has questions to answer over it.

The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner announced an investigation into whether he broke the Commons code of conduct, which states that new MPs "must register all their current financial interest, and any registrable benefits (other than earnings) received in the 12 months before their election within one month of their election".

The rules say "purely personal gifts or benefits" from family or commercial loans would not normally have to be registered, but "if there is any doubt [about the motive of the giver or the gift's use] the benefit should be registered".

The process was suspended when he stood down and forced the by-election.

Speaking to the BBC in June, Farage said the £5m was "unconditional gift, I can spend it on cars if I want to", and went on to say the money was for his personal security.

Daniel Wittenberg
Reporting from Clacton

All the ballot boxes have now arrived at the count at Clacton Leisure Centre.

It’s clear from watching the counters that dealing with the longest ballot paper in British electoral history is a cumbersome - and slower - process.

Each ballot paper has to be unfurled, scanned for a cross next to any of 34 candidates, then the creases flattened before it is sorted into separate piles.

Simon Dedman
Reporting from Clacton

The ballot paper for this by-election is 90cm (3ft) long to fit all 34 candidates' names on.

It has cost four times more than the ballot used in the general election according to Tendring council – the local authority running the by-election.

This is a new British electoral record.

Hold it out in full and it is longer than most people’s limbs.

Image source, EPA

Daniel Wittenberg
Reporting from Clacton

Counting in the Clacton by-election is “already slower than usual”, the acting returning officer has said.

The result is not expected until after dawn.

Image source, Reuters

Aside from Reform UK, the Westminster parties have boycotted this by-election.

However, 34 candidates put their names forward, making it a record for a British parliamentary election.

Among them was Count Binface of the Count Binface Party and three candidates from the Monster Raving Loony Party.

Actor and political activist Laurence Fox, who set up the Reclaim Party in 2020, was also on the ballot paper, alongside 19 independents.

Other candidates included Adham Alkhatip from the Forward Party, William Clouston from the Social Democratic Party and John Stevens from the Rejoin EU Party.

Image source, PA Media

Daniel Wittenberg
Reporting from Clacton

Counting is under way in the Clacton by-election.

The first ballot boxes had arrived outside the count venue by 22:15 and the first box was brought inside at 22:23.

Image source, Reuters

Harry Farley
Reporting from Clacton

Welcome to Clacton Leisure Centre. This seaside town and its surrounding area have played host to moments of British political history.

In 2014 UKIP gained its first elected MP when Douglas Carswell defected from the Conservatives and won a by-election.

In 2016 it cemented its reputation as a home of Brexit when around 70% of people voted to leave the European Union. And in 2024 Nigel Farage finally won a parliamentary election as one of five Reform MPs at the General Election.

Today people here have been taking part in another moment of political history; a record of 34 candidates are standing in this by election.

It’s taking place because Farage chose to resign and trigger a by-election in the middle of an investigation into his finances. The independent Parliamentary standards commissioner was looking into whether Farage broke the rules by accepting a £5m gift and not declaring it.

Farage insisted he did nothing wrong and quit, saying the people of Clacton should be the judges of his actions. But the other main political parties are boycotting, saying it’s a distraction and should be held after the inquiry has concluded.

You can read a full list of the candidates challenging Farage here.

We’ll be here throughout the night to bring you the result in one of the most bizarre by-elections in recent memory.

Daniel Wittenberg
Reporting from Clacton

The provisional turnout in the Clacton by-election is “around 43%”, the acting returning officer has announced.

The final figure will be confirmed after ballot verification has been completed.

Turnout in the constituency at the 2024 general election was 58.7%.

Harry Farley
Reporting from Clacton

Image source, PA Media

The result here isn’t in doubt.

No one I’ve spoken to in recent days – whether in Clacton or in Westminster – believes anyone other than Nigel Farage will win tonight.

One thing that does matter is the size of victory. Despite not facing any challenge from the main political parties, Reform UK have spent a lot of time and around £150,000 campaigning here in recent weeks.

From sources I’ve been speaking to in the party, they argue if Reform UK wins at least 70% of the vote tonight, that will secure the seat for Farage even if he has to come back for another by-election if Parliament’s independent standards commissioner finds he seriously broke the rules over his £5m gift.

Farage wants to argue that a comfortable victory will send a message to the establishment. But the establishment in this by-election are represented by an assortment of minor parties and satirical candidates, including three from the Monster Raving Loony Party and Count Binface, a comedian in a spacesuit with a bin on his head.

The danger for Farage is not so much the result tonight. But whether it makes him look like an unserious politician, not the prime minister in waiting he insists he is.