IN HIS RESIGNATION speech, Nigel Farage said he will run for his own seat in the Clacton byelection, calling it a “people-versus-establishment” vote.

The ‘establishment’ he’s set to face? Well it looks like it’s going to be a guy dressed as a bin. 

On Tuesday, soon after this speech from Farage, Count Binface said: “Leave him to me.”

Count Binface, is a satirical candidate that has run in many of the recent elections in the UK, including most recently the Makerfield election that saw Andy Burnham elected.

He received 95 votes.

Farage has faced scrutiny in recent weeks over financial support given to him by a convicted fraudster, and a £5 million (€5.85 million) gift from a Reform UK donor before he became an MP.

Reports detailed that long-term ally George Cottrell had provided funding for security and staffing in the year before Farage was elected. Farage is already facing a parliamentary standards investigation over the funding.

Under the Commons’ rules, new MPs are required to register any gifts worth more than £300 they received in the previous 12 months, except where the gift “could not be reasonably thought by others” to relate to their political activities.

Though Farage may have been hoping to get a big win over Labour, the Conservatives or the Green Party in this byelection, they have all confirmed that they won’t be fielding candidates.

Instead, the Reform UK leader faces Binface who has already pledged “to be a unity candidate” and “build at least one affordable house”.

He has not confirmed whether he would build this house with his own two hands. 

His other national policies include “nationalising Adele” and “moving the hand dryer in the gents toilets in the Crown and Treaty pub, Uxbridge to a more sensible location”. 

Binface also appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning to discuss his campaign where he said once he has the necessary signatures to run he will “tailor [his] manifesto to the local area”.

He also speculated about why the other parties are choosing not to put forward candidates for this byelection: “Maybe they’ve noticed Nigel is having a rather peculiar hissy fit and they’re keeping their powder dry for a second by-election when the parliamentary committee reports.”

Farage has not responded directly to Binface’s candidacy, but he did tell Sky News that he believes the Conservatives aren’t running because they know “they’d lose and lose badly”.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves accepted Farage’s resignation today which she called “a farce and a desperate distraction”.

Reeves also referenced Binface’s candidacy. In a post on X confirming she has accepted the Reform UK leader’s resignation she said: “If he wants to spend the summer arguing with a bin, I won’t stop him.”

Farage was elected as MP for the constituency during the last general election in July 2024 with more than 46% of the vote (21,225 votes).

The only other candidate confirmed to run so far is anti-immigration Reclaim Party leader Laurence Fox.