In UK by-election, Nigel Farage contests against Count Binface as Reform UK sinks to lowest point

In the Clacton by-election, British far-right leader Nigel Farage will on Thursday face Count Binface in a contest that has been mocked as a “media circus” and a “vanity project”.

Farage, who has pitched himself as a future prime minister, resigned as an MP last month after it emerged that he had not disclosed millions in funding from a cryptocurrency billionaire and a convicted criminal to support his political operations. The Labour Party described his decision to immediately seek re-election as a “desperate stunt” and announced a boycott of the election.

Labour was joined in the boycott by the Conservatives, the far-right Restore Britain party, the Green party, and the Liberal Democrats.

“It’s obvious why he is doing it. He is up to his neck in sleaze. Politics should be about improving the lives of millions of people, not about personal gain, not about hiding dodgy donations, and I think the public will see this for exactly what it is,” then-Prime Minister and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said at the time.

Farage is currently facing a double whammy of personal scandals and Reform UK’s declining popularity. The latest YouGov survey found that Reform UK has fallen to its lowest level in 17 months while Labour has enjoyed a resurgence under the leadership of Andy Burnham.

Farage accepted an undisclosed gift of £5 million ($6.74 million) from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne and is accused of receiving undisclosed funds from convicted criminal George Cottrell for staffing, security, and housing. These allegations are the subject of an ongoing parliamentary investigation.

Farage is an ally of US President Donald Trump and has previously enjoyed the backing of Elon Musk, who has been one of the administration’s principal agents in its regime-change mission across Europe. He previously championed the successful Brexit campaign for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union (EU).

Count Binface mocks Farage’s rehabilitation bid

Count Binface, who wears a metal dustbin as a helmet, is the most prominent candidate challenging Farage.

The fact that Binface, a novelty candidate, is the only well-known challenger in an election whose outcome is a foregone conclusion suggests that the British political establishment has rejected Farage’s attempt to rehabilitate his image and portray himself as a victim of harassment by political elites.

In British political tradition, a novelty candidate is a person who contests elections primarily for satire or to make a political point rather than with a realistic intention or expectation of winning office. Binface’s real name is Jonathan Harvey. He is a writer and comedian.

Similar candidates have previously contested elections against former PMs Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May. Binface has also stood against former PM Boris Johnson on at least two occasions.