Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has defended a victory rally held by Nigel Farage which did not have an event licence.

Tice said "it was a private party and it was a good party" when asked by the BBC about the so-called Farage Fest held in Great Oakley, Essex.

Hundreds of people attended the event, featuring live music, alcohol and a Ferris wheel, to celebrate Farage's success in August's Clacton by-election.

However, Tendring District Council had refused to grant a Late Temporary Event Notice (LTEN) because the application had not been made in time.

Organisers of such events must give the council at least five working days' notice to consider their application.

Reform has maintained "no rules were broken" and the party was lawful. It has previously argued the licence was not needed, but was applied for on a precautionary basis.

Dismissing criticism of the event, Tice said: "Lots of people enjoyed it and do you know what? We can be serious, we can come up with great policies, we can work hard.

"And then, guess what? We can celebrate. That's literally what normal people do."

The festival-style rally on 13 August was invite-only for Reform supporters, who paid to enter and were allowed to camp and park on-site at Great Oakley airfield.

Farage didn't attend the election count, instead attending the party, and was declared the vote's winner in the early hours of the following morning.

Tendring District Council said its investigation is continuing into whether the event was unlawful.

If it decides to prosecute, the organiser could face a fine or even a custodial sentence.

When asked if he was worried about this, Tice said: "Are we not allowed parties these days? Are we so boring and dull that we're not allowed parties?"

He said voters were more concerned about solar farms and plans for a 114-mile (185km) route of pylons than "whether or not someone had a glass of wine at some party in the middle of the night".

The council is due to announce its next steps regarding the investigation at a later date.

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