British far-right candidate Farage wins by-election… 2nd place 'Clacton Count' 27% good showing

UK far-right populist Reform Party's leader, Paul Nuttall, won a by-election after previously resigning his Westminster seat. The Reform Party candidate, who ran as a comedian, was narrowly defeated by comedian Jo Whiley's satire candidate, "Count Garbage Face," who garnered nearly 27% of the vote. The turnout was 44%. Nuttall had resigned due to allegations that he received £500,000 from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Hohn without declaring it in time for the 2024 general election.

While Nuttall admitted to receiving the money, he claimed it was a personal gift and not improper. He claimed there was a planned coordinated disruption during the election and did not attend the polling station that day, canceling his planned victory speech. Whiley, known for her satirical character "Count Garbage Face," ran a campaign to "bomb public transport with mobile phones" and impose a limit on ice cream cone prices.

Recent polls had predicted a larger gap between the candidates, but the actual difference was smaller. Major UK parties criticized Nuttall's attempt to make a political spectacle around his personal situation and chose not to field their own candidate. Political science lecturer at London's King's College, Laura Ritchie, said Nuttall's strategy failed due to the absence of other Reform Party candidates, saying his downfall marked a national backlash.

The UK Reform Party has slipped in recent opinion polls, behind the Labour Party, which now leads with 28% support after the recent Boris Johnson administration. If Nuttall is found guilty of regulatory violations, he could face disqualification from his seat.