The nation has been left reeling after Nigel Farage announced his resignation as MP for Clacton-on-Sea, triggering a by-election that he plans to run in.
The vote, which has been branded 'a farce and a desperate distraction' by politicians, is an attempt by the Reform UK leader to 'stick two fingers up to the entire establishment' and prove his worthiness to represent the Essex constituency amid a series of scandals over his finances.
All the major political parties have decided not to run in the by-election, scheduled for August 13, but the race is by no means won. While Farage is expected to emerge victorious next month, a number of candidates from the fringes of UK politics have emerged as rivals vying for his spot.
The motley crew of candidates includes Count Binface, a comedian who has run for office in a few general elections and stood against the likely incumbent Prime Minister Andy Burnham in the recent Makerfield by-election. Binface has emerged as the lovable underdog most likely to unseat Farage.
Binface has become an unlikely hero in British politics, despite never having made it to Parliament. He has run as a novelty candidate on several occasions, including a recent Makerfield by-election, where he bagged 0.2% of the vote.
Binface's policies over the years have included nationalising Adele, moving an awkwardly-placed hand dryer in an Uxbridge pub, capping the price of 99 Flake ice creams at 99p, and becoming the UK entry for next year's Eurovision Song Contest.
If Binface were to win in Clacton, he would be the first novelty candidate to do so in British political history – and all eyes would be on his big bin mask.
The man behind the mask is Oxford-educated comedian Jon Harvey, who has written for the likes of The Thick of It and Have I Got News for You.
Another candidate vying for Farage's spot is Rob Pownall, a 27-year-old wildlife campaigner who will be running as a 'human fox' on ballot papers in August. Pownall previously stood against Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election wearing the fox costume we've come to know and love.
Pownall has run as a few different animals, including a giant gannet in the Scottish Parliament election, in protest against the 'Guga hunt' – an annual hunt of gannet chicks in Sula Sgeir.
Pownall has taken particular issue with Farage's policies on hunting and animal rights, and says he fears Farage would support other blood sports such as bird shooting.
The Monster Raving Loony Party has also entered the fray, with its leader, Howling Laud Hope, planning to run in the by-election. Hope wants to turn Clacton-on-Sea into a British Disneyland, and believes that with the right approach, the town can be restored to its former glory days.
Hope has a long history of standing in parliamentary elections, having done so 37 times previously. He believes that if he can win this by-election, he will hold the Guinness Book of Records for the most times standing for the same party.
The by-election is set to be a wild and unpredictable ride, with several candidates vying for the top spot. Whoever wins will have to deal with Clacton's high unemployment and crime rates, as well as poor housing – and will be expected to bring the town back to its former glory days.
