EXCLUSIVE: Nigel F@rage’s Clacton by-election victory rally ‘Farage Fest’ investigated
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Nigel Farage did not show up at the count of the Clacton by-election – and instead appeared at a ‘Farage Fest’ event(Image: AP Photo/Richard Pelham)
The organisers of Nigel Farage’s Clacton by-election victory rally – dubbed “Farage Fest” – are being investigated for failing to get permission to hold it.
The Reform UK leader faced criticism after he failed to show up for the result of the £250,000 contest he triggered earlier this month.
Instead he appeared in the early hours of the morning in the Essex countryside several miles from the count at a “Farage fest”, which boasted alcohol, ferris wheel, DJs and several fire pits. GB News was the only media outlet present.
Mr Farage called the event “Clactonbury” when he spoke to cheering fans from the stage. Fans had to pay to enter the event, but could camp and park for free.
Tendring District Council confirmed it had refused to grant a Late Temporary Event Notice (LTEN) as the application had not been made within the legal timescale required.
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Nigel Farage’s main by-election rival was parody candidate Count Binface(Image: Getty Images)
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After Reform submitted a Late Temporary Event Notice, Tendring Council responded with a “counter-notice” on the grounds that the “Late TEN” was too late. The council said “it was not submitted within the statutory timescales required under the Licensing Act 2003”.
As a result “no authorisation” was granted for Farage Fest and organisers were pointed to the section of the Licencing Act that warns them of potential criminal offences if they go ahead.
Section 136 of the Licensing Act 2003 states that “a person commits an offence if he carries on a licensable activity” without authorisation, “or if he knowingly allows a licensable activity to be so carried on”.
The Act states: “A person convicted of such an offence is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine of any amount, or to both.”
Influencer Bruce Hamill attended and said afterwards: “What a festival it was. What political party out there puts on 200 tents, free food and drink, for everyone to just have a party from the minute the by-election polling started to I think it was 7am in the morning.
“They put on water, put on fire pits, they had marshmallows, there was hot dogs, there was a disco, everyone was having fun.”
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Nigel Farage gave a speech after his by-election win – but not from the count itself(Image: Reform UK)
It is unclear when the hot dogs were served or how hot they were but, under the Licensing Act 2003, supplying hot food or hot non-alcoholic drinks to the public between 11pm and 5am requires authorisation which Reform did not receive.
Mr Farage was re-elected as Clacton’s MP – after resigning from the role at the start of July – during the by-election earlier this month. All the other major political parties boycotted the race, branding it a “gimmick” and a “stunt” to try to distract from questions about a £5million gift Mr Farage received shortly before the 2024 general election. Mr Farage’s main rival was parody candidate Count Binface.
A Commons probe into the £5m gift Mr Farage received was suspended when he resigned as an MP. It was restarted when he was re-elected.
Lisa Hastings, Corporate Director for Law and Governance at Tendring District Council, said: “We can confirm that a Late Temporary Event Notice (Late TEN) was submitted in relation to an event on Thursday, 13 August, at Great Oakley Airfield.
“This notice was refused, and a counter-notice served, as it was not submitted within the statutory timescales required under the Licensing Act 2003. No authorisation was therefore granted under a Late Temporary Event Notice for the event.
“As the matter may now involve potential enforcement considerations, Tendring District Council is unable to comment further on any ongoing or potential investigations by Licensing or other council departments; nor provide any further details about the Late TEN submission.”
Reform UK spokesman: “Reform UK are confident that no rules were broken and the event was conducted in accordance with the law.”
Earlier today, Richard Tice denied that Mr Farage is “hiding” despite him failing to make a public appearance since the Clacton by-election. Reform UK’s deputy leader said his boss is on “good form” and will be “plenty” out at the party’s annual conference in Birmingham next week.
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