British populist party leader Nigel Farage has triggered a snap election in the Clacton constituency after resigning as an MP.
He says he wants voters to judge his actions for themselves, rather than relying on accusations and investigations against him.
However, his move has taken an unusual turn: the main British parties have decided not to field candidates against him, describing the process as a “political spectacle.”
This has left Farage’s only possible opponent as Count Binface, a satirical candidate known for appearing with a bin on his head, writes Reuters .
Binface, a character created by comedian Jonathan Harvey, has previously run in elections to satirize British politics and promote democratic participation.
He himself has admitted that the chances of winning are small, but says that his goal is to challenge the political system through humor.
Farage is also facing parliamentary scrutiny over gifts and financial benefits from wealthy supporters, including a reported gift of millions of pounds.
He claims that the investigations are politically motivated and that the elections will give him the opportunity to gain direct support from citizens.
The Clacton by – election is set to be one of the most unusual contests in modern British politics, pitting a prominent populist leader against a candidate created as political satire.