One in five people in Clacton would rather vote for Count Binface than in the upcoming by-election than vote for Nigel Farage, polls reveal.
A survey by Survation for Mandate Research of voters in Clacton suggests Mr Farage would win 73 per cent of the vote , while his main rival Count Binface, could sweep up an estimated 20 per cent of the vote.
In an Ipsos poll asking the general public who they would vote for in a hyperthetical head-to-head, a third (33 per cent) of British adults said they would prefer Count Binface to win the race, while only 21 per cent back the Reform UK leader.
Meanwhile, the poll found 32 per cent wouldn’t want either of them to win and 13 per cent didn’t know who they would chose.
Mr Farage initiated the by-election, which will be held on 13 August, in protest against parliamentary scrutiny of his financial affairs and backers.
All the main Westminster parties are boycotting the by-election in Clacton, meaning Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, Green Party and Restore Britain will not be fielding candidates.
Many have dismissed the election as a “stunt” , Yvette Cooper called the move by Farage a “political tantrum” and others said it was a “distraction” from allegations made about Mr Farage’s financial affairs.
The decision to force a by-election came after questions about a £5m donation Mr Farage received from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne and gifts from a convicted criminal, George Cottrell.
However, without other mainstream parties, the by-election is filled with numerous independent candidates as well as the satirical candidate Count Binface and actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox – who could steal 2 per cent of the votes according to a poll by Survation for Mandate Research.
Tendring District Council has confirmed a total of 34 candidates – a record for any parliamentary contest.
Count Binface – a satirical character who has pledged to cap the price of croissants at £1, conscript people who play loud music on public transport and build at least one affordable home – has now emerged as his main competitor.
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.
Labour under Sir Keir Starmer had struggled since they won the 2024 general election to contend with rising support for Reform UK, trailing behind as the Nigel Farage-led party stormed to victory making sweeping gains at two consecutive local elections.
But since Andy Burnham became prime minister polling shows the two parties are now neck-and-neck.
Data from YouGov shows 22 per cent would vote for Labour, 19 per cent would vote Conservative, meanwhile 23 per cent would vote Reform UK and 13 per cent for Green.
Full list of candidates for the Clacton constituency
– Joseph 77 (Independent)
– Adham Alkhatip (The Forward Party)
– Count Binface (Count Binface Party)
– Nick The Incredible Flying Brick (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
– Tony Cane (Independent)
– Woke Trump Carrzee (Independent)
– William Stuart James Clouston (Social Democratic Party)
– Rees Cowne (Independent)
– Glenn Charles Cummings (Independent)
– Martin Davies (Freedom Alliance – Real People, Real Alternative!)
– Andy Erlam (Independent)
– Nigel Farage (Reform UK)
– Attieh Fard (Independent)
– Laurence Fox (The Reclaim Party)
– Tony Francis (Independent)
– Robin Green (Independent)
– Abi Hookway (Independent)
– Howling Laud Hope (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
– Stephen Richard Ingram (Independent)
– Amy Morris (Independent)
– Derrick Norbert Morris (Independent)
– Michael Noel O’Keeffe (Independent)
– Martyn OBrien (Independent)
– Nick Pelas (Independent)
– Ketankumar Pipaliya (UK VOICE safer and stronger UK)
– Daniel Pocock (Independent)
– James Ransley (Consensus Party Candidate)
– Gerry Smith (Independent)
– Kai Stephens (British Democrats)
– John Stevens (Rejoin EU)
– Baron Von Thunderclap (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
– Pamela Walford (Independent)
– Marcus White (Everyone is God Party)
– Marc Wilkinson (Independent)
