Counting of votes under way in Clacton by-election

Counting has commenced in the Clacton by-election, which pits Reform UK leader Nigel Farage against satirical candidate Count Binface. The race has been mocked by many residents as a farce, with the Reform UK leader resigning his parliamentary seat over a financial investigation. The vote has drawn little attention from the main political parties, who view it as a stunt by Farage to avoid scrutiny.

Analysts predict a win for Farage, but also anticipate a significant share of votes going to Binface, who dons a rubbish bin on his head. Binface's alter ego, comedian Jon Harvey, sees the election as an opportunity to grab attention. Despite the low voter enthusiasm, Farage has framed the by-election as "the people of Clacton versus the Establishment" to challenge the financial probe against him. So far, a record 33 fringe candidates, including Binface, have participated in the vote.