The parliamentary watchdog has reopened its investigation into a £5 million personal gift and donations received by Nigel Farage. This development comes after a by-election in Clacton, which Farage called.
Farage secured more votes in the by-election than he did in the general election two years ago, despite 10,000 fewer people turning out to vote. He chose Clacton as his parliamentary launchpad, a seat where Ukip previously achieved a breakthrough in a 2014 by-election and which Electoral Calculus estimates as one of the most right-wing constituencies.
Farage did not attend the official declaration of the by-election. He claimed Essex police had informed him of an "organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result," but the local force stated there had been no "incidents or issues" related to the by-election, adding that attendance was a matter for candidates.
An adverse ruling from the parliamentary watchdog's investigation could potentially force another by-election.