Man dressed as fox pulls out of Clacton election because it’s become a ‘circus’

Craig Munro | Senior Politics Reporter Published July 14, 2026 9:23am Updated July 14, 2026 9:24am To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A campaigner who announced he would run against Nigel Farage in the Clacton by-election while dressed as a fox has pulled out of the race, condemning it as a ‘farce’. Rob Pownall revealed to Metro last week he was planning to stand in the vote in an effort to draw attention to the plight of British wildlife and Farage’s support for fox hunting. The 27-year-old came joint second-last in the Makerfield by-election won by Andy Burnham last month, receiving 18 votes while dressed in the same outfit with haunting yellow eyes. His announcement last Thursday prompted a wave of comments on s