Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis has wished the comedian ‘good luck’ in his upcoming battle with the Reform UK leader.
Count Binface speaks to Sky News at the Makerfield by-election
New Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis has wished Count Binface “good luck” in the Clacton by-election triggered by the resignation of Nigel Farage. Comedian Jon Harvey, who regularly runs under the pseudonym Count Binface, has confirmed he will take part in the contest.
Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and Restore Britain have all ruled out fielding a candidate. The Reform UK leader said that he would re-fight the Essex seat in what he billed as a “people versus the establishment” by-election.
Nigel Farage. (Image: Getty)
Count Binface and Andy Burnham (Image: Getty)
Facing increasing scrutiny over his finances and a parliamentary investigation, Mr Farage said the “people of Clacton should be the judge of my actions”.
Labelling the election a “waste of time”, Mr Jarvis said the Reform boss is “in real trouble”.
“This is clearly a stunt from Nigel trying to get in front of the concerns that have been expressed about him accepting 5 million pounds,” he said.
“We’ll see what the standards commissioner rules. My sense is he understands the strength of feeling, which I’ve actually, interestingly, felt bottom up in my constituency.
“I think he senses that he is in real trouble and has taken action to try and get in front of that.”
Speaking in Ankara, where he is attending the NATO summit, Mr Jarvis added: “I don’t think that has played out particularly well for him. I don’t think it’s been well-received. I’ve had some quite interesting feedback from my constituents that this is just a complete circus and a complete waste of time.
“Looks like Count Binface will be sort of stepping forward, and good luck to him.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said her party would not participate in “the fake election, which Nigel Farage is causing to distract people from what is happening”.
The Liberal Democrats urged the Government to block Farage’s resignation until the standards investigation had concluded, arguing that his constituents needed “all the facts before they cast their votes”.
Restore Britain – set up by the MP Rupert Lowe after he was suspended from Reform – said it would not stand in this election but would do so if a second by-election was ultimately triggered by the standards inquiry.
The Green Party of England and Wales initially said it would be a decision for the local party.
Later, Green MP Hannah Spencer told BBC Newsnight local members had decided not to field a candidate.
Mr Farage has said that his party has offered to cover the cost of the by-election, which is normally paid for from central Government funds.
A Government estimate from 2016 put the cost of by-elections at £228,964, but that figure will have risen since then.
Dan Jarvis. (Image: Getty)
Mr Farage won the Clacton constituency in the 2024 General Election, securing a healthy majority of more than 8,000 and beating the Conservatives into second place. Labour finished third, followed by the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.
He has been under investigation from Parliament’s standards commissioner, Daniel Greenberg, since May, after not declaring a £5 million gift he received from billionaire Reform donor Christopher Harborne before he became an MP.
The standards commissioner’s investigation has been paused following Farage’s resignation, but it could be resumed if he wins the by-election and returns to Parliament.
One possible outcome of the investigation is a suspension, which triggers a recall petition.
This process enables an MP to be removed, and a further by-election would be triggered if 10% of eligible registered voters sign a petition.