Clacton by-election result live: Reform chief Nigel Farage awaits fate in bin fight as voting closes

Neither the Tories nor Labour are impressed with Mr Farage’s antics.

You’ll remember that he triggered this by-election in June while he was being investigated by the Parliamentary standards commissioner.

This contest, he proclaimed, would prove that he’s been victim of an establishment stitch-up and that he still has the backing of the people.

If only Thomas Tuchel had been allowed to put the World Cup semi final to a vote rather than let the result play out.

But anyway, as polls closed Labour chair Bridget Phillipson said: “Nigel Farage spent 38 days fighting a bin in his most desperate attempt yet to deflect attention from the sleaze and scandals engulfing him and his Party.“Farage may succeed in his run-off against a bin, but he can’t run from the truth forever. The list of unanswered questions about the £5 million gift he hid from the public, his support from a convicted fraudster, and the mountain of other scandals he and Reform are facing isn’t going away. In fact, it’s getting longer by the day.

“It’s time to stop the excuses and desperate distractions and finally come clean with the public. If Farage has nothing to hide, he surely would have done so by now.”

And a Tory spokesman said: “Nigel Farage called this fake by-election in a desperate attempt to draw a line under the questions surrounding his fishy £5 million donation. Whatever the outcome on Friday, this stunt has not done that.”