Count Binface leads Nigel Farage in poll ahead of Clacton by-election

Jul 9, 2026

A new poll reveals that 33% of British adults would prefer parody candidate Count Binface to win the Clacton by-election, compared to 21% for Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Farage triggered the by-election by resigning his seat amid growing financial scrutiny, including a parliamentary probe into a £5 million gift and a police investigation into £500,000 in party donations. With mainstream parties boycotting the contest, Farage faces unconventional rivals like Binface and animal rights campaigner Rob Pownall.

Clacton by-election polling

▪A national survey showed 33 percent of British adults prefer Count Binface to win the Clacton by-election, compared to 21 percent who support Nigel Farage.
▪A YouGov poll showed 74 percent of British adults believe the parliamentary standards commissioner should investigate Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

Count Binface candidacy

▪Count Binface, a parody candidate whose real name is Jon Harvey, is contesting the Clacton by-election against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
▪Labour donor and energy tycoon Dale Vince pledged to fund Count Binface's election campaign in Clacton.
▪Count Binface's proposed policies include restoring the price of a 99 flake to 99p and capping the price of a croissant at £1.
▪Wildlife campaigner Rob Pownall is contesting the Clacton by-election dressed in a fox costume to campaign against Nigel Farage's record on animal welfare.

Reform UK donation investigation

▪The Metropolitan Police has been investigating £500,000 of donations to Reform UK for more than a year.
▪Fiona Cottrell, the mother of convicted fraudster George Cottrell, made two £250,000 payments to Reform UK and gave £1 million to Britain Means Business.
▪The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is investigating whether Nigel Farage should have declared a £5 million gift from cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne.

Public perception of Farage

▪A YouGov poll found 69 percent of Britons consider the Reform UK party to be sleazy.
▪A YouGov poll found 73 percent of Britons, including 40 percent of Reform UK voters, consider Nigel Farage to be sleazy.

Mainstream party boycott

▪Nigel Farage accused rival political parties of being scared to face him after they declined to contest the Clacton by-election.
▪Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and Restore Britain ruled out contesting the Clacton by-election.