A fifth of voters could back Count Binface over Nigel Farage in the upcoming by-election in the Reform UK leader’s constituency, new polling has suggested.
A new survey by Survation for Mandate Research suggests Mr Farage would win 73 per cent of the vote on a low turnout when constituents head to the polls later this month.
But his main rival, Count Binface, could sweep up an estimated 20 per cent of the vote.
When options are reduced to just the two candidates, Mr Farage’s vote drops to 69 per cent, while support for Count Binface surges to 31 per cent.
The poll, seen by The Telegraph, also suggests that Mr Farage would gain 56 per cent support in the next general election, with the Conservatives on 10 per cent and Labour on 8 per cent.
Mr Farage’s decision to force a contest followed continued questions about a £5m donation he received from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne and gifts from a convicted criminal, George Cottrell.
He is currently the subject of an investigation by parliamentary standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg over whether his failure to declare the money, which he claims was a “gift”, on becoming an MP in 2024 breached Commons rules.
Count Binface – a satirical character who has pledged to abolish VAR in football, conscript people who play loud music on public transport and “nationalise Adele” – has now emerged as his main competitor.
The comedian, who is described as an “independent space warrior” 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.
Bookmakers have slashed the odds of the regular joke candidate at by-elections to beat Mr Farage, after all major parties refused to stand in what they have dubbed a “fake” election.
Count Binface is now being quoted as the second favourite at 9/1 by William Hill.
The Tories, Lib Dems, Greens and Labour have all announced that they will not stand in the by-election, describing it as “a desperate political stunt”.
Last week, Mr Farage’s approval rating hit its lowest level since the 2024 general election, in the latest evidence that Reform UK is on the verge of seeing its support collapse.
According to More in Common’s latest approval rating for party leaders, Mr Farage has plummeted to -32 per cent, a drop of around 10 points in just two weeks.
Meanwhile, new prime minister Andy Burnham has hit +19 per cent as he continues to benefit from the momentum built during his first few days in office.
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