The Reform UK leader triggered the contest after deciding to stand down amidst massive scrutiny over his financial affairs
Voters in Clacton-on-Sea are set to head to the polls on Thursday for a crunch by-election, with Nigel Farage widely expected to reclaim the seat despite a challenge from comedian candidate Count Binface.
The Reform UK leader, who is campaigning in the constituency ahead of the vote, triggered the contest after deciding to stand down amidst massive scrutiny over his financial affairs.
The Tories, Lib Dems, Greens and Labour have all announced that they will not stand in the by-election with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch describing it as “fake” and Sir Keir Starmer calling it “a desperate political stunt”.
Count Binface – a satirical character who has pledged to abolish VAR in football, conscript people who play loud music on public transport and “nationalise Adele” – has emerged as his main rival.
Tendring District Council has confirmed a total of 34 candidates – a record for any parliamentary contest.
It comes as Reform UK is struggling in national polling following a series of scandals, including questions about a £5m donation he received from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne and gifts from a convicted criminal, George Cottrell.
The latest YouGov survey put Labour on 24 points, two points ahead of Nigel Farage’s party on 22 per cent.
Tendring District Council has confirmed a total of 34 candidates – a record for any parliamentary contest.
Nick the Incredible Flying Brick – Monster Raving Loony Party
William Clouston – Social Democratic Party
Howling Laud Hope – Monster Raving Loony Party
Baron Von Thunderclap – Monster Raving Loony Party
After all other major political parties refused to stand in the Clacton by election, Nigel Farage’s main competitor has emerged as Count Binface.
The satirical character has pledged to abolish VAR in football, conscript people who play loud music on public transport and “nationalise Adele”
The comedian, who is described as an “independent space warrior” and wears a bin on his head, has contested a number of elections, including contests against Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak and most recently the by-election in Makerfield, where he received 95 votes.
The man behind the mask is Jonathan David Harvey, a comedian who has has worked on shows including Have I Got News For You and the Thick of It.
Count Binface would beat Nigel Farage in a head-to-head contest in Clacton if the entire nation was voting, a new poll on the eve of the by-election has found.
New polling from More in Common shows that in a head-to-head contest, 37 per cent of Britons want Count Binface to win the seat, while only 32 per cent would back the Reform UK leader.
Green Party voters were most likely to prefer Count Binface to win, with 62 per cent saying so, followed by 56 per cent of Liberal Democrat voters and 54 per cent of Labour voters.
Nigel Farage is hours away from facing Count Binface in a crunch by-election, as voters in Clacton-on-Sea prepare to head to the polls on Thursday.
The Reform UK leader is out campaigning in the constituency in a final push to garner support in the contest.
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