Council Investigates Reform UK’s ‘Farage Fest’ After Clacton Victory Party

A victory celebration linked to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is facing scrutiny after a council began investigating whether the event should have had official permission.

The festival-style gathering, dubbed “Farage Fest”, took place at Great Oakley airfield following Farage’s victory in the Clacton by-election. Hundreds of supporters attended the overnight event, which featured live music, alcohol, camping and even a Ferris wheel.

The celebration was held instead of Farage attending the declaration of the election result, where he was returned as Clacton’s MP with a majority of 12,784 votes.

Farage later appeared on stage at the gathering, greeting supporters as the event continued into the early hours.

Council says application was too late

Tendring District Council says an application for a Late Temporary Event Notice (LTEN) was refused because it was submitted after the required deadline.

Under licensing rules, an LTEN application normally has to be made at least five working days before an event.

The council has confirmed that no authorisation was granted under an LTEN for the festival and is now looking into the circumstances surrounding the event.

The investigation does not mean the organisers have been found to have broken the law.

Reform UK disputes need for permission

Reform UK has rejected the suggestion that the event required an LTEN.

The party says the gathering was a private, invite-only event and maintains that it operated within the law. It says the application was submitted as a precaution rather than because the organisers believed permission was legally required.

Supporters from across the Clacton constituency who had backed Farage during the election campaign were invited to attend. Guests paid an entry fee, while camping and parking were provided at the site.

The event combined the atmosphere of a political rally with elements more commonly associated with a music festival, attracting hundreds of people to the airfield.

What happens next?

Tendring District Council will now assess whether any further action is necessary.

If the investigation ultimately leads to a prosecution, organisers could face a financial penalty and, depending on the circumstances and offence involved, potentially a custodial sentence.

For now, however, the dispute centres on whether the event required formal licensing permission in the first place.

The episode comes as Reform UK continues to expand its presence in British politics, with Farage's increased majority in Clacton providing the party with another significant electoral boost.

The council's investigation will determine whether “Farage Fest” was simply an unusual private celebration — or whether its organisers crossed the line into holding an event that required official authorisation.