Nigel Farage claims victory in Clacton by-election over Count Binface
Updated . First published at
British firebrand politician Nigel Farage has won the by-election caused by his own resignation.
Farage won more than 62 per cent of the vote, a landslide win.
Britain’s Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage. AP Photo/Richard Pelham
But his main opponent, novelty candidate Count Binface, attracted 9455 votes, more than a quarter of the ballots cast.
The Reform Party leader refused to attend the count, but declared victory hours in advance before any results were revealed.
“I am damned if I am going to stand on a stage, having won a resounding victory, and be demeaned and humiliated by nobodies,” he said.
Farage resigned from the House of Commons after an investigation into his financial interests was announced.
He then immediately announced he would run in the by-election.
But Labour, the Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and Restore Britain did not field candidates.
But Farage was far from unopposed, with 32 opponents throwing their hats in the ring, making for a record-breaking ballot that stretched nearly a metre long.
Most famous of the candidates was Count Binface, a so-called “independent space warrior” famed for running against senior politicians.
Jon Harvey, dressed as the satirical character Count Binface. Getty Images
Binface, also known as Jonathan David Harvey, has previously run against prime ministers Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Andy Burnham.
His pseudo-populist platform included a windfall tax on “cosy crime novels written by celebrities”.
“I will cut your taxes, and raise everyone else’s,” his manifesto stated.
“I pledge to build at least one affordable house.”
Farage broke with tradition by not attending the result.
The Clacton-on-Sea by-election has the longest ballot paper in UK history. Getty Images
In British elections, the results are not announced until every ballot has been counted. The candidates traditionally line up shoulder-to-shoulder behind the returning officer as the vote counts are read out.
The winner then takes to the microphone to make a victory speech.
Clacton is a constituency on the coast of Essex a few hours out of London.
The seat is one of the most conservative in the country.
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