Nigel Farage says he won’t attend count in Clacton byelection against Count Binface - UK politics live

The Reform UK leader will not be present at vote count in byelection he has tried to frame as the ‘people versus the establishment’ Nigel Farage set for decisive but arguably empty victory in Clacton The acting returning officer for the Clacton-byelection" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="161428" data-entity-type="event">Clacton byelection, Ian Davidson, said he would not comment on security matters but that there was a “robust policing operation” in place. Davidson, the chief executive of Tendring district council, told the count after Farage’s speech in Essex: “We work very closely with Essex-police" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="145849" data-entity-type="organization">Essex police and have done so throughout this process, and continue to do so tonight, and we will be continuing the count, as we always do, in a safe and secure manner.” We have worked closely with Essex-police" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="145849" data-entity-type="organization">Essex police colleagues to ensure the election process is completed safely and securely, as is evident from the level of security we have in place here today. This includes a robust policing operation throughout the day and including at the count. I’m not scared of these people, far from it. But I’m damned if I’m going to stand on a stage, having won a resounding victory, a ringing endorsement of all that I’ve tried to fight for, and you’ve tried to fight for, and be demeaned and humiliated by nobodies, and I will not sadly be attending the count. Continue reading...