Farage set for Count Binface showdown in Clacton by-election as he aims for Westminster return

The Reform UK leader quit as an MP to trigger the contest in protest at media and parliamentary scrutiny of donations from his backers

Count Binface appears to have become Nigel Farage's main competition in the Clacton by-election - and now another rival party has talked about a potential dream collaboration - the Loony Bin

Nigel Farage is the clear favourite, but Count Binface is attracting serious support in a by-election featuring a record 34 candidates, including an Australian software engineer and three "Loonies".

Satirical candidates are a long-standing tradition in British politics, but few have made as much of an impression as Count Binface. TIME speaks to the novelty candidate ahead of the Clacton by-election.

Farage was elected to EU parliament five times before becoming Clacton MP, while Binface has been less successful – so far Nigel Farage has been standing in British elections since 1994, when he narrowly beat Screaming Lord Sutch of the Monster Raving Loony party into fourth place in a Commons byelection. He was electe

Calling himself the "only fresh thing on the menu," the trash-talking candidate is now in a prime position for the upcoming vote.

They're the frontrunners to represent Clacton in Parliament - but what do the Reform leader and independent space warrior stand for?

Even Reform voters are lamenting Farage making their town 'look a bit of a laughing stock.'

LONDON (AP) — Nigel Farage depicts himself as an outsider taking on the establishment, but now the tables have turned.

Who will win the Clacton by-election? Hugo Gye, our Britain political correspondent, visits the seaside town

Nigel Farage and Count Binface are the main contenders in Thursday’s Clacton by-election

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is running in a special election where his main opponent is a man dressed like a dustbin

For Nigel Farage, success brings new pressures and a showdown with Count Binface  AP News

Set in motion by Farage amid a probe into his finances, the election may backfire as all of the major political parties denounced it as a stunt.

Binface, who has run against prime ministers past and present, was the first to throw his bucket in the ring when Reform U.K. leader Nigel Farage abruptly quit Parliament.

EXCLUSIVE: The Countdown legend, who labelled the Reform leader ‘awful’ and said she is a ‘big fan’ of PM Andy Burnham, also did not rule out going into politics herself