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.
Full list of candidates
Tendring District Council has confirmed a total of 34 candidates – a record for any parliamentary contest.
They are as follows:
Nigel Farage – Reform UK
Count Binface – Count Binface Party
Nick the Incredible Flying Brick – Monster Raving Loony Party
William Clouston – Social Democratic Party
Martin Davies – Freedom Alliance
Laurence Fox – Reclaim
Adham Alkhatip – Forward Party
Howling Laud Hope – Monster Raving Loony Party
Ketankumar Pipaliya – UKVoice
James Ransley – Consensus Party
Kai Stephens – British Democratic Party
John Stevens – Rejoin EU Party
Baron Von Thunderclap – Monster Raving Loony Party
Marcus White – Everyone is God party
Marc Wilkinson – Independent
Pamela Walford – Independent
Gerry Smith – Independent
Daniel Pocock – Independent
Nicholas Pelas – Independent
Martyn O’Brien – Independent
Michael O’Keeffe – Independent
Derrick Morris – Independent
Amy Morris – Independent
Stephen Ingram – Independent
Abi Hookway – Independent
Robin Green – Independent
Tony Francis – Independent
Attieh Fard – Independent
Andy Erlam – Independent
Glenn Cummings – Independent
Rees Cowne – Independent
Woke Trump Carrzee – Independent
Tony Cane – Independent
Joseph 77 – Independent
Athena Stavrou12 August 2026 13:04
Who is Count Binface?
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.
Athena Stavrou12 August 2026 12:56
Watch: Voters in Clacton say they have ‘lost hope’ ahead of by-election
Athena Stavrou12 August 2026 12:53
Count Binface would beat Nigel Farage in Clacton if all Britons could vote in by-election, poll finds
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.
Read the full story here:
Count Binface would beat Farage in Clacton if all Britons could vote, poll finds
Satirical character Count Binface has emerged as Farage’s main rival in ClactonAthena Stavrou12 August 2026 12:49
Nigel Farage begins final push to reclaim seat in battle with Count Binface
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.
Athena Stavrou12 August 2026 12:47