Clacton by-election live: Voters brave heatwave to cast ballots as Nigel Farage battles Count Binface to retain seat

Nigel Farage dramatically announced that he would step down from parliament and call a by-election in his Clacton seat, which he would contend after claiming he was the victim of “an establishment stitch-up”.

His decision to force a contest followed continued questions about a £5m donation he received from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne and gifts from a convicted criminal, George Cottrell.

Athena Stavrou12 August 2026 13:30

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

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:

Athena 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.