The proposal came during Prime Minister’s Questions after Farage triggered a by-election in Clacton by resigning his seat and seeking a fresh mandate from voters.
Rather than facing candidates from Labour or the Conservatives, the Reform UK leader could instead be challenged by the satirical campaigner known for his silver bin helmet and humorous manifesto promises.
The suggestion has sparked political reaction in Swindon, where Reform UK now holds 14 seats on Swindon Borough Council following gains at the local elections in May.
Speaking to Swindon24, Reform UK’s Swindon Chair Sarah Godwin questioned why the main political parties had decided not to contest the by-election.
“It bothers me in one respect, and that’s the whole democracy side of it. People can attack and say, ‘Nigel, you shouldn’t be here’, and then actually they won’t then stand and do battle as such, so that bothers me.”
While accepting Count Binface’s right to stand after being formally nominated, she said the absence of Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats had changed the nature of the contest.
“People are entitled to stand for by-election if they are obviously nominated and gone through the formal process, so what will be will be on that side, but I really do think that I just wonder why actually the Conservatives, Labour, Libs aren’t going to put people forward when they’ve known so much about Nigel.”
Godwin said defeating Count Binface would still achieve Farage’s objective in calling the by-election.
“I think, obviously, it gives him the, ‘You had your chance to go up against me and get rid of me like you want to’, so I think that is the whole thing that we’re at at the moment. You’ve had your chance. Let’s just get on with what we need to get on with.”
She also dismissed suggestions that the major parties were simply trying to deny Farage the campaign he wanted.
“Both, probably. I definitely think they’re scared of him. He is a strong leader. Look how much he’s ahead in the polls.”
She added:
“I think if they had any chance that they think that they could win and get Nigel out, I think they’d stand.”
Swindon South MP Danny Kruger also criticised the decision by the major parties not to field candidates in the Clacton by-election.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, he argued that politics “is not a joke” and accused the mainstream parties of making a mockery of the electoral process by effectively leaving Count Binface as Nigel Farage’s principal challenger.
Responding to Badenoch’s proposal, Sara told Swindon24:
“I support Danny’s argument back, and as they themselves can’t even put up a candidate at all anyway it’s clear they don’t have any respect for a sensible election. They need to stop joking about politics and start acting on sorting out the country.”
Farage resigned as MP before immediately standing again, arguing that voters should decide his future rather than Westminster politicians or parliamentary investigators.
Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party have all opted not to field candidates, leaving Count Binface as the highest-profile challenger.
Behind the satirical character is comedy writer Jon Harvey, whose campaigns have become known for humorous policies designed to encourage political engagement.
Whether the proposed television debate takes place remains to be seen, but the suggestion has already added another unusual twist to what has become one of the most unconventional by-election campaigns in recent political history.
