Reform UK leader Richard Tice has claimed the by-election was not truly ‘free or fair’ due to the behaviour of “certain candidates”.

r Tice says he witnessed “disturbing” scenes of abuse and death threats throughout the campaign and has removed his staff from the count for security reasons.

He claimed menacing behaviour became a feature of the campaign.

The Reform UK leader has also voiced concerns about the number of postal votes, and said the by-election must act as a wake-up call for British democracy.

Mr Tice’s statement in full:

“Now the polls have closed people across the United Kingdom need to know the truth about this election campaign and the implications for our country and our democracy.

“To suggest that a parliamentary election in this country has not been a truly free and fair election is a very serious allegation indeed. Unfortunately, the behaviour of certain candidates and their supporters in this contest fall very far short of our traditional democratic standards. What we witnessed and experienced in Rochdale is deeply disturbing.

“Our candidates and campaign team have been subjected to racist death threats, racist abuse, refused entry to hustings in council buildings and had to be relocated for their own safety. They have suffered daily intimidation and slurs. I’ve already removed all of my staff from this count.

“In one incident, Reform UK business supporters were threatened with a fire bomb attack if they just if they distributed our leaflets. Menacing behaviour became a feature of this entire campaign including today outside polling stations in the ugliest of contexts.

“We’re concerned by the sudden increase, also, in the size of the postal vote from 14,000 last time, to some 23,000 just a few years later.

“The results of this Rochdale by-election should act as a serious wake up call to those in power and indeed the entire electorate. This is the United Kingdom. We’re supposed to be a beacon of democracy.

“This shameful contest has been the sort of thing you might expect to see in a failed state unless something dramatic changes are fear as a result, and be repeated in dozens of constituencies in the general election.

“We face the prospect of a number of extremist antisemitic lawmakers in the House of Commons by Christmas.”