CLACTON-ON-SEA, England—Reform UK leader Nigel Farage regained his parliamentary seat on Friday.
Farage, one of Britain's leading Brexit campaigners, did not turn up at count in the southern English seaside resort of Clacton because he said the police had advised him that there was a campaign to disrupt the result.
"I am damned if I am going to stand on a stage, having won a resounding victory.... and be demeaned and humiliated by nobodies," Farage told supporters at a party before the result was announced.
The election was triggered after Farage resigned from parliament last month to seek a fresh mandate from voters in what he described as a war against an establishment bent on discrediting him over taking undeclared gifts from donors.
After Britain's main parties pulled out of the race, calling it a self-serving stunt, Farage's main challenger ended up being Count Binface, a figure created by comedian Jonathan Harvey, who has become a fixture of fun at British elections.
While Farage took 62.8 percent of the vote, Count Binface, whose policies included capping the price of ice cream cones and conscripting anyone using a speakerphone on public transport, secured 26.7 percent.
Investigation
The parliamentary watchdog is expected to continue its investigation into Farage's financial declarations once he returns to parliament.At the heart of the investigation is whether he should have declared the gift from a Thailand-based billionaire before the 2024 national election. Under parliamentary rules, members of parliament must declare any donations received in the year preceding an election within one month of taking office.
Farage has admitted receiving the money, but not declaring it, saying he has done nothing wrong because it was a personal gift.
If the parliamentary authorities, who are investigating, conclude that Farage breached declaration rules, he could face a suspension from parliament, and another vote to retain his seat, where the main parties would probably field candidates.