Count Binface is the people’s candidate in Clacton, says Mrs Badenoch

Count Binface is the people’s candidate at the Clacton by-election, Kemi Badenoch has said.

The self-described intergalactic space warrior appeared to receive the backing of the Tory leader after confirming that he would stand against Nigel Farage in the coming weeks.

Mrs Badenoch said: “If it’s the people versus the establishment, I think Nigel Farage might be looking like the establishment, and Count Binface may be the people.”

On Tuesday, the Reform UK leader resigned to fight a by-election amid a sleaze investigation into donations he received, including from Christopher Harborne, a crypto-billionaire. He insists he has done nothing wrong.

But his hope that voters in Clacton would be “the judges of my actions” appeared to backfire after the other political parties refused to stand candidates against him.

Asked whether people should vote for Count Binface in the absence of a Tory hopeful in Clacton, Mrs Badenoch told Sky News: “The people of Clacton, and the Conservatives in particular, are very sensible – they will do what they know to be right. It’s not for me to be getting involved in that.

“Let’s see what kind of campaign Count Binface runs, and who the establishment really is – if it’s the people versus the establishment, I think Nigel Farage might be looking like the establishment, and Count Binface may be the people. So the whole thing is a farce.”

However, the Tory leader suggested she would not vote for Count Binface herself if she lived in Clacton, saying she would “be sitting by the beach having a nice summer”.

She also called the contest a “fake by-election” and said the Tories would only contest a second by-election should the standards committee rule against Mr Farage. If the Reform leader was suspended for 10 days or more, another vote could be triggered if a recall petition was signed by 10 per cent of constituents in Clacton.

Count Binface has stood in a number of high-profile seats since 2019, prompting awkward moments on election night by standing alongside leading political figures.

He stood against Boris Johnson, the then prime minister, in Uxbridge and South Ruislip at the 2019 general election, coming seventh with 69 votes.

In 2024, Count Binface challenged Rishi Sunak in his Richmond and Northallerton seat.

Most recently, he came seventh at the Makerfield by-election, receiving 95 votes and 0.2 per cent of public support, after standing against Andy Burnham.

Mr Burnham, the prime minister in waiting, ended up sandwiched between Count Binface and a candidate dressed as a fox as he learnt of his imminent return to Westminster.

Count Binface gave his first interview of the Clacton by-election campaign on Wednesday, telling listeners he had been heading back to Sigma 9, his home planet, before learning of Mr Farage’s resignation.

He told the BBC’s Today programme: “I got wind of that and I’ve turned around the starship pronto! How about that? Lovely.”

Challenged on what his appeal to voters in Clacton would be, he said: “I’m not Nigel Farage.”

Count Binface rejected claims that his campaign would be light on policy detail, saying he had a “full and costed manifesto”, which included a pledge to build “at least one affordable house” and nationalising the singer Adele.

Asked whether he could win, he said: “Probably not, but my job is to celebrate and defend the wonders of British democracy. And look at this, eh? The fact that you’re interviewing me on the Today programme because all the other parties aren’t standing says more about them than it does about me.

“Are they running scared of old Binny, or do they think Nigel’s running a cunning stunt? And I pronounce that carefully at 8.55 in the morning.”

Count Binface also made it clear that he was not courting the support of the Conservatives. Challenged on whether he wanted the Tories or the Liberal Democrats to weigh in behind him, he responded: “I don’t need them. They can do what they want.”

On Tuesday, Count Binface posted a digitally altered image of him as Batman responding to the bat signal, only for the bat to be replaced by a silhouette of a bin. He accompanied the photograph with the words: “On my way, Clacton.”

In a plea to his prospective constituents, he added: “Any Clacton residents who want to nominate your friendly neighbourhood intergalactic space warrior, ping me a line.”