Nigel Farage was hit by a wave of ridicule after quitting as an MP to stand in a by-election where his main rival may be Count Binface.
The Reform UK leader announced on Tuesday that he was resigning from Parliament as he faced a series of financial allegations.
He will seek re-election in Clacton on August 6, the seat which he won at the 2024 election.
But his decision sparked mockery from political rivals.
Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham was quick out the traps.
He posted an image of himself with Count Binface and stressed: “Always worth knowing when bin day is.”
Always worth knowing when bin day is. pic.twitter.com/tIuKFfb3Fk
— Andy Burnham (@andyburnham) July 8, 2026
But Westminster was awash with confusion on Wednesday over whether Mr Farage had actually resigned as an MP, and the possibility that he could do a U-turn after the main parties said they would not take part in the by-election.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, though, confirmed in the early afternoon that he had quit, through the archaic procedure for MPs to stand down.
“I will accept Nigel Farage’s request to be appointed Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead,” she posted on X.
“It is a farce and a desperate distraction, and the people of Clacton deserve better.”
Ramping up the lampooning, she added: “But if he wants to spend the summer arguing with a bin, I won't stop him.”
It is understood that the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has launched a probe into Mr Farage over a £5 million gift from Reform donor Christopher Harborne before becoming an MP.
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 has continued to allow him to use a five-storey Georgian property he rented near Buckingham Palace.
The Reform leader denies any wrongdoing, saying he had followed Commons rules.
He also claims he is being targeted by the media and the “Establishment”.
Appealing to voters in Clacton, Mr Farage sought their backing, saying: “It’s a chance to stick two fingers up to the entire Establishment.”
But Justice Secretary David Lammy, standing in for Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions, said: “He’s got serious questions to answer and he can’t run away from them.
“Labour is not going to be part of this circus, I hear it’s the people versus the establishment, the city trader, Putin-admiring, professional politician who’s pals with crypto billionaires versus Count Binface.”
As the contest was getting underway, social media content creator and “Southend comedian” Simon Harris messaged: “Clacton campaign. Day One. Everyone is talking about a bin.
“Reform are into full PR mode while expecting everyone to ignore their leader being in a two-way contest with a bin.”
Amid the looming bizarre showdown, the bookies saw a jump in interest for Count Binface, who was put at 5-1 of winning, according to Oddschecker, with the Reform leader still clear favourite on 1-8.
It will be a contest between you and a man dressed as a bin.
— Andrew Snowden MP 🇬🇧 (@A_J_Snowden) July 7, 2026
Which is all the seriousness this distraction gimmick deserves. https://t.co/S4d5Y4hmWu
Mr Farage was determined to frame the by-election as a “contest between the people of Clacton and the entire political establishment”.
But Fylde Conservative MP Andrew Snowden jibed: “It will be a contest between you and a man dressed as a bin. Which is all the seriousness this distraction gimmick deserves.”
On the main parties deciding not to field candidates, Count Binface, the electoral and space warrior created by comedian Jon Harvey, said: “They can choose to run away from my beneficence and magnificence, or maybe they just noticed Nigel is up to a rather peculiar hissy fit, and they're keeping their powder dry for a second by-election.”
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 another Clacton by-election.
Reform’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf defended Mr Farage, stressing that he was not seeking to avoid scrutiny over his finances by calling a by-election.
“Nigel will answer those questions, that is clear. He’s already said that he will,” he said.
“The reason that he has made the decision that he has is because the most serious sanction that parliamentary standards can impose is, of course, a suspension long enough such that a parliamentary by-election would be called if there was a recall petition.
“So what he has done is say: ‘Let’s go directly to that ultimate source of truth’.”
