VIDEO SHOWS: ARCHIVE FOOTAGE OF COUNT BINFACE, WHO IS ONE OF THE MAIN CHALLENGERS RUNNING AGAINST REFORM UK LEADER NIGEL FARAGE IN THE CLACTON BY-ELECTION

STORY: Count Binface has emerged as a leading challenger against UK's Nigel Farage in the upcoming local election triggered by his decision to step down. In July, Farage said he was standing down to fight again for his place in parliament, in what he called a war against an establishment bent on discrediting him with accusations about his finances. After weeks of facing accusations he had failed to properly declare millions of pounds worth of gifts from wealthy backers, Farage used a televised announcement to vent his anger over what he described as a "pile-on" by Britain's liberal elite. Britain's main political parties described the move as showing Farage crumbling under the pressure of scrutiny, and the governing Labour Party, Conservatives and other parties said they would not run a candidate in the election in Clacton. Count Binface, aka comedian Jonathan Harvey, who dresses in a silver outfit with matching cape and wearing a silver trash can as a helmet, could get 20% of the vote, according to a poll conducted by Survation for Mandate Research, while Farage could win 73% of votes in the election on Thursday (August 13). Binface is a familiar face - or helmet - at British elections, having stood against three ex-prime ministers, Theresa May in 2017 - albeit then in his former guise as Lord Buckethead - Boris Johnson in 2019 and Rishi Sunak in 2024. He has also contested London mayoral elections and most recently stood against Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election. (Editing and writing: Millie McCaughan)

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (ARCHIVE - JULY 2, 2024)(REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF COUNT BINFACE, AKA COMEDIAN JONATHAN HARVEY, POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHER WITH WESTMINSTER PALACE IN BACKGROUND

2. COUNT BINFACE LEAVING HOUSE

3. COUNT BINFACE WALKING DOWN STREET

4. PEOPLE WALKING TOWARDS COUNT BINFACE TO GREET HIM

5. CHILD POSING WITH COUNT BINFACE

6. MAN TAKING SELFIE WITH COUNT BINFACE, COUNT BINFACE WALKS AWAY

7. COUNT BINFACE TURNING TO FACE WESTMINSTER AS BELLS OF BIG BEN RING

8. VARIOUS OF COUNT BINFACE DANCING AND POSING FOR CAMERAS

9. PEOPLE WATCHING FROM BEHIND FENCE

10. COUNT BINFACE POSING FOR CAMERAS

11. COUNT BINFACE WALKING DOWN STREET

12. COUNT BINFACE ARRIVING AT HOUSE

WIGAN, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (ARCHIVE - JUNE 19, 2026) (UK POOL - Broadcast: No use UK. Digital: No use UK, except UK newspapers)

13. LABOUR’S ANDY BURNHAM STANDING NEXT TO COUNT BINFACE LISTENING TO RESULTS BEING ANNOUNCED IN MAKERFIELD BY-ELECTION

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTING RETURNING OFFICER FOR WIGAN COUNCIL, ALISON MCKENZIE-FOLAN, SAYING:

“And I do hereby declare that Andy Burnham is duly elected, thank you.”

15. BURNHAM WAVING AND CLAPPING, SHAKING HANDS WITH COUNT BINFACE

WIGAN, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (ARCHIVE - JUNE 19, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

16. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF COUNT BINFACE AT THE VOTE COUNTING FOR THE MAKERFIELD BY-ELECTION

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (ARCHIVE - MAY 4, 2024) (LONDON ELECTS - Access all)

17. CANDIDATES IN THE LONDON MAYORAL ELECTION, INCLUDING COUNT BINFACE, ARRIVING ON STAGE AND BEING CHEERED BY AUDIENCE

NORTHALLERTON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (ARCHIVE - JULY 5, 2024) (UK POOL - Broadcast: No use UK. Digital: No use UK, except UK newspapers)

18. COUNT BINFACE AND OTHER CANDIDATES ON STAGE, THEN-BRITISH PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAK WALKING TO LECTERN AFTER BEING ANNOUNCED AS WINNER OF RICHMOND AND NORTHALLERTON CONSTITUENCY