The defence secretary has wished Count Binface “good luck” in the Clacton by-election after the satirical candidate vowed to challenge Nigel Farage.
The intervention comes after Farage, the leader of Reform UK, sensationally announced that he would resign as the MP for Clacton and stand in the subsequent by-election so that voters could be the “judges of my actions”. The shock declaration, delivered in a live video statement on Tuesday afternoon, came in the face of growing questions over a series of donations Farage has received.
Farage billed the by-election as a “people versus the establishment” contest.
However, in the wake of Farage’s statement, the major parties consecutively confirmed that they would not stand candidates in Clacton.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Labour’s ruling body, the national executive committee, has decided not to stand a candidate in this circus.
“Instead, Labour will remain focused on delivering for working people and holding Reform to account. Farage should let the parliamentary investigation into his finances run its course and face the consequences.”
A spokesperson for Andy Burnham, the likely incoming prime minister, referred to the election a “a gimmick designed to distract from serious allegations about Farage’s funders.”
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, indicated that her party would not stand a candidate in the “fake by-election”.
Badenoch said: “We will not be standing a candidate in the fake by-election that Farage is causing to distract people from what is happening.”
The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, urged Reform UK’s rivals to “refuse to give oxygen to Farage’s vanity project.”
Rupert Lowe, the leader of Restore Britain, has also said his party will not be standing a candidate.
These developments appeared to clear the way for novelty candidate Count Binface, a staple of recent parliamentary by-elections, to challenge Farage. Binface, so far, appears to be Farage’s main electoral rival.
In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, posted to social media, Binface called on any “Clacton residents who want to nominate your friendly neighbourhood intergalactic space warrior” to get in touch.
Count Binface, who sports a rubbish bin as a helmet and poses as a “space politician”, recently stood in the June 2026 Makerfield by-election. They won 95 votes and placed seventh. In the 2024 general election, Binface stood in the Richmond and Northallerton seat, the constituency of incumbent prime minister Rishi Sunak, securing 308 votes.
Binface’s campaign in Clacton received a boost on Wednesday morning as the defence secretary, Dan Jarvis, appeared to row in behind the perennial candidate and comedian.
Jarvis referred to the self-imposed by-election as a “stunt” and said Farage was in “real trouble”.
Speaking from a Nato summit in Ankara, the defence secretary stated: “I don’t think that has played out particularly well for him. I don’t think it’s been well-received. I’ve had some quite interesting feedback from my constituents that this is just a complete circus and a complete waste of time.
“Looks like Count Binface will be sort of stepping forward, and good luck to him.”
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