Richard Tice brands opponents ‘cowardly chickens’ as he addresses prospect of second Clacton by-election

Richard Tice has branded Reform UK’s political opponents “cowardly chickens” as he addressed the prospect of a second Clacton by-election.

Speaking to GB News, the Reform Deputy Leader reacted after Nigel Farage triumphed in the contest, which no other major party contested.

Mr Farage triggered the election after resigning as MP amid a parliamentary probe into donations he had received, pitching the vote as a “people vs establishment” battle.

He secured 22,239 votes while his closest rival, a satirical candidate named Count Binface, received 9,455.

“It's a fantastic result,” Mr Tice began in the hours after his party’s victory.

“Not only has Nigel increased his vote share very dramatically from 46 to some 63 per cent, but to secure a thousand more votes than he got in 2024 on a turnout that is some 14 per cent is truly remarkable and unprecedented.

“It shows the good voters of Clacton actually said to the establishment, they've said to the mainstream media, all of the naysayers: ‘Actually, not only do we want more, we want Nigel’.

“That is the key message. It's a huge result,” he insisted.

After his Clacton victory, the probe into Mr Farage was automatically reopened, which, depending on the findings, could eventually force another contest.

“We clearly have a parliamentary inquiry underway against Nigel Farage, and the possibility of a sanction that could lead to another by-election in Clacton,” GB News Home and Security Editor Mark White began.

“What would you say to your political opponents who may well be reaching for that particular option?”

“They're the ones who would then be wasting a £250,000,” Mr Tice shot back.

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“They're the ones who had the chance to have a contest against Nigel and they're the ones who bottled it.”

Performing an impression of a chicken, including fanning his arms to mimic wings, Mr Tice declared: “They’re like cowardly chickens! They had the chance. They abandoned it.

“Kemi Badenoch panicked and sent a letter to the Clacton constituents saying: ‘Maybe I slightly regret not putting a candidate, but don't vote for Nigel.

“I mean, the whole thing is just cowardice, pure cowardice on their behalf.”

Addressing criticism from mainstream parties following Mr Farage’s victory, the Reform Deputy Leader slammed: “How discourteous was it of the Labour Party, of the Tories and the Lib Dems to not put candidates up?

“Essentially, they were just cocking a snoop at the good voters of Clacton and said: ‘You don't matter.’

“Well, actually, they do matter. Nigel asked them the question, and they have said, as I say, we want more, Nigel, not less Nigel.”

Mr Tice then turned his attention to Andy Burnham, joining growing criticism of the new Prime Minister dodging parliamentary scrutiny since entering No10 three weeks ago.

“A government leads us with a prime minister, who's essentially taken over running the country in a literal coup with no electoral mandate whatsoever.

“He is a man who will face almost no scrutiny in the House of Commons except on a couple of appearances before mid-October."

“It’s utterly disgraceful,” the Reform Deputy Leader fumed.