A wildlife campaigner dressed as a fox is entering the Clacton by-election to challenge Nigel Farage, joining Count Binface in a bid to unseat the Reform UK leader.
Who is the human fox?
Rob Pownall, 27, founder of Protect the Wild, will don a fox costume to campaign against Farage's record on animal wildlife and hunting. He previously stood as a giant gannet in the Scottish Parliament election and as a fox in the Makerfield by-election against Andy Burnham.
Pownall told Metro: 'The storyline of this by-election is one of the most famous politicians of a generation standing for parliament against a man with a bin on his head. Now he is going to have to do the same with a man in a fox costume. It is funny and silly. But the difference between me and Count Binface is there is a serious cause behind what I am doing.'
Why target Farage?
Pownall is making the contest personal, focusing on Farage's support for fox hunting and other blood sports. Farage branded ministers 'authoritarian control freaks' over plans to ban trail hunting and attended a hunt last Christmas. Trail hunting involves laying a scent for hounds, but campaigners say it still leads to foxes being killed.
Pownall said: 'The framing of this whole election is Farage vs the establishment. That pisses me off beyond belief. You cannot get any more establishment than Farage, who supports fox hunting. How can you claim to be this man of the people, when he supports a pastime that involves ripping apart animals?'
He also points to Reform UK's 2024 manifesto, 'Our Contract with You', which pledged to protect 'country sports'—a euphemism for hunting and shooting, according to Pownall. Reform also promised to scrap over 6,700 retained EU laws, including environmental protections, and to abandon net zero targets while fast-tracking North Sea oil and gas licences.
By-election farce
Farage resigned as MP for Clacton to force the by-election, claiming he wanted to prove his popularity after a series of financial scandals. The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is investigating whether he failed to declare a £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne in January 2024. Labour has also asked the Electoral Commission to probe undeclared gifts from criminal aristocrat George Cottrell, who allegedly built up Farage's social media presence.
All major parties have refused to stand candidates, leaving the field to novelty contenders. Count Binface has dominated headlines, and the Monster Raving Loony Party's leader, Howling Laud Hope, will also stand.
Pownall admitted he is 'burnt out' after two elections in three months and will do 'as little as possible' in Clacton. He added: 'I am standing to ensure British wildlife gets a voice. This is a good opportunity to put these issues on the map.'
Reform UK has been contacted for comment.
