Nigel Farage faces Count Binface in Clacton by-election as Trump ally fights financial scrutiny

The Reform UK leader battles a satirical candidate and mounting allegations in a contest drawing global attention.

Nigel Farage will face a record 33 rival candidates in the Clacton by-election on Thursday, August 13, including the satirical contender Count Binface.

Count Binface has not held back on the number of pledges he is making as he takes on the Reform UK leader in the Clacton by-election.

The "space and electoral warrior" has published a 20-point platform for the contest.

The race was triggered by the Reform UK leader quitting as MP for the Essex seaside constituency as he faced a swirl of financial allegations.

So it is not surprising that at least some of the Count's manifesto promises are directed specifically against Mr Farage.

But there are also a number of other pledges which might be expected from a not always entirely serious electoral contender.

The main Westminster parties are boycotting the contest, dismissing it as a stunt by the Reform UK leader.

He wanted the by-election to be a "people versus the establishment" showdown.

But his move is threatening to backfire as the contest could turn into a largely two-way battle between him and Count Binface, the character created by comedian Jon Harvey, despite the huge number of other contenders.

The Binface v Farage battle has already gone global, being reported in America, Australia, India, France, Italy and many other countries around the world.

The U.S. connection matters because Mr Farage is a long-time ally of Donald Trump and his populist style has influenced right-wing movements across North America.

Canadian observers will recognize the dynamic of a protest candidate exposing the absurdities of a system under strain.

On a more serious note, Reform UK is facing a growing number of allegations over its financial affairs.

A probe by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards into Mr Farage, over a £5 million gift from Reform donor Christopher Harborne before becoming an MP, is understood to have been paused after he quit Parliament.

The Reform leader is also facing calls for an investigation following reports that long-term ally George Cottrell had provided undeclared funding for security and staffing in the year before he was elected.

Mr Cottrell reportedly recruited and paid three staff to work on Mr Farage's social media before the general election, and had continued to allow him to use a five-storey Georgian property he rented near Buckingham Palace.

Mr Farage denies any wrongdoing and says he followed Commons rules.

The Reform leader, an ally of Donald Trump, has also rejected claims that he spends little time in Clacton.

If Mr Farage is found to have breached Commons rules on declaring interests and is suspended for more than 10 sitting days, it could trigger a recall petition, potentially leading to a second Clacton by-election.

Tendring District Council said a total of 34 candidates had entered the August 13 race, which is believed to be a record for a parliamentary contest.

The council said the previous record is understood to have been 26 candidates, set at the Haltemprice and Howden by-election in July 2008, which was triggered by Tory Sir David Davis in his own seat and similarly ignored by the main Westminster parties.

Separately, Reform Deputy Leader Richard Tice is facing allegations over funding for the party.