Nigel Farage’s personal ratings have slumped to their worst since the general election, an Opinium survey found, with more than half of voters disapproving of the Reform UK leader and only a quarter approving – as he prepares for an August byelection in Clacton that pits him against a man in a bin. Just two years after being elected an MP for the first time, Farage announced he would quit his constituency and stand again, triggering a contest that all mainstream parties are boycotting. His only declared rivals so far are Count Binface – the alter ego of Jonathan Harvey – and Laurence Fox. “Game on, Nige,” Binface posted online. Asked about his policies, Binface told the BBC: “Get at least one affordable house, nationalising Adele and bring back Ceefax.”
On the streets of the Essex constituency, voters offered a mix of adulation, scepticism and outright cynicism. “I think it’s good he’s called an election,” said Sam Borgman, who programmes electronics in racing cars. “It shines a spotlight on him and exposes his motives. It’s Wizard of Oz stuff, style over substance. I think having a man with a bin on his head as his rival is possibly the contempt he deserves.” Earlier, Farage staged a quick media event in Frinton-on-Sea. “He looked rather rattled I thought, quite severe,” said Philippa, a resident who previously voted Liberal Democrat. “It was quite extraordinary, just this wall of people in suits coming towards us just walking along; he wasn’t engaging with people.” Another voter, Nick, called the byelection a “stunt” and added: “I think he has overplayed his hand. I suspect he had come back from the 250th celebrations in the US after meeting Trump people who told him: ‘You should go direct to the people.’”
“Farage's ratings hit -27 as Clacton byelection pits him against Count Binface with all major parties boycotting.”
Before 2024, the 70,000-strong constituency was a Conservative seat held by Giles Watling, who won by a landslide in 2019 with 72% of the vote. Watling said his 24,700 majority was wiped out when Farage ran in 2024. “Farage tells people what they want to hear and he does it very effectively,” Watling said. The byelection comes amid questions over Farage’s leadership finances, which some voters believe are a trap of his own making. The contest, which Farage has framed as a battle between “the establishment and the people”, is now set for August – but with no major party fielding a candidate and his ratings in freefall, the question is whether Clacton will deliver the endorsement he seeks or the contempt Binface represents.