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One in five people in Clacton<\/a> would rather vote for Count Binface than in the upcoming by-election<\/a> than vote for Nigel Farage<\/a>, polls reveal. <\/p>\n A survey<\/a> by Survation for Mandate Research of voters in Clacton suggests Mr Farage<\/a> would win 73 per cent of the vote , while his main rival Count Binface<\/a>, could sweep up an estimated 20 per cent of the vote.<\/p>\n In an Ipsos poll asking the general public who they would vote for in a hyperthetical head-to-head, a third (33 per cent) of British adults said they would prefer Count Binface to win the race, while only 21 per cent back the Reform UK leader. <\/p>\n Meanwhile, the poll found 32 per cent wouldn\u2019t want either of them to win and 13 per cent didn\u2019t know who they would chose. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n Mr Farage initiated the by-election, which will be held on 13 August, in protest against parliamentary scrutiny of his financial affairs and backers.<\/p>\n All the main Westminster parties are boycotting the by-election in Clacton, meaning Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, Green Party and Restore Britain will not be fielding candidates.<\/p>\n Many have dismissed the election as a \u201cstunt\u201d , Yvette Cooper called the move by Farage a \u201cpolitical tantrum\u201d and others said it was a \u201cdistraction\u201d from allegations made about Mr Farage\u2019s financial affairs. <\/p>\n The decision to force a by-election came after questions about a \u00a35m donation Mr Farage received from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne and gifts from a convicted criminal, George Cottrell.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n However, without other mainstream parties, the by-election is filled with numerous independent candidates as well as the satirical candidate Count Binface and actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox – who could steal 2 per cent of the votes according to a poll by Survation for Mandate Research. <\/p>\n Tendring District Council has confirmed a total of 34 candidates – a record for any parliamentary contest.<\/p>\n Count Binface \u2013 a satirical character who has pledged to cap the price of croissants at \u00a31, conscript people who play loud music on public transport and build at least one affordable home \u2013 has now emerged as his main competitor.<\/p>\n For Westminster gossip, intrigue and behind-the-scenes insight, sign up for John Rentoul\u2019s Commons Confidential newsletter by becoming an Independent Premium subscriber here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The comedian, who is described as an \u201cindependent space warrior\u201d and wears a bin on his head, has contested a number of elections, including contests against Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak and most recently the by-election in Makerfield, where he received 95 votes.<\/p>\n