UKIP's Nigel Farage sparked a highly anticipated by-election in Clacton, Essex, after defecting to the Conservative Party in September 2015. In the subsequent by-election, UKIP candidate Douglas Carswell secured a narrow victory, but Farage's decision to trigger the vote ultimately proved to be a calculated move to test UKIP's viability in a traditionally Labour stronghold. While the result may have been predictable, Farage's bold gamble has left many questioning what, if anything, he achieved by forcing the by-election. As the UK grapples with the implications of Brexit, Farage's decision raises important questions about the role of UKIP in British politics and the future of the party.
Nigel Farage triggered the Clacton by-election and the result was predictable - so what did he achieve?
