Polls close in Clacton by-election as Nigel Farage waits to see if his political gamble pays off with Count Binface: 34 candidates vie to win record-breaking 'stunt' contest

Polls have closed in the Clacton by-election after residents of the Essex constituency were asked to decide if they would again back Nigel Farage as their local MP.The Reform UK leader will now wait to see if he has beaten his rivals - including Count Binface - to regain the seaside seat he won at the 2024 general election.A result to determine if Mr Farage's political gamble has paid off is not expected until near sunrise on Friday, due to the record 34 candidates in the contest.It is the largest number ever for a Westminster by-election and has caused logistical problems for the vote count.Mr Farage quit as Clacton MP last month to trigger the by-election - at an estimated cost to taxpayers of £250,000 - in protest at scrutiny over his donations from wealthy backers.The 62-year-old declared he was forcing a 'people versus the Establishment' contest, but the other political parties boycotted the race as they dismissed it as a 'stunt'.It left Count Binface, a perennial comedy candidate at Westminster contests, as the Reform leader's most notable rival.Actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox, three contenders from the Official Monster Raving Loony Party and an array of independents also stood in the constituency. Polls have closed in the Clacton by-election after residents were asked to decide if they would again back Reform leader Nigel Farage, pictured at The Ship pub on Thursday, as their local MP A replica model of Count Binface was erected in the Essex constituency in support of the comedy candidate Mr Farage arrived at a polling station in the Essex constituency on Thursday morning after more than a month of campaigning Mr Farage arrived at a polling station in the Essex constituency on Thursday morning after more than a month of campaigning.'Three guesses who I voted for!', he posted on social media shortly after he filled in his ballot paper.The success of the Reform leader's campaign is likely to be judged in comparison with the 46.2 per cent of the vote - and a majority of 8,405 over his Conservative rival - that he won in Clacton in 2024.He will be expected to comfortably beat that result in the by-election, due to the absence of any other main political parties. The 90cm-long ballot paper of all 34 by-election candidates has caused logistical problems for Tendring District Council and returning officer Ian Davidson.The size of the ballot paper means larger tables than usual are being required at the count and the result will be announced on the floor of Clacton Leisure Centre rather than on a stage due to the number of candidates who would have to fit on it.Photographers and TV cameras covering the count were advised by officials they will need a wide-angle lens to fit all the candidates into a single shot.Before quitting the House of Commons, Mr Farage was being investigated by a parliamentary watchdog over a £5million gift from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne, which he received before he won his Clacton seat in 2024.Under Commons rules, new MPs are required to register any gifts worth more than £300 they received in the previous 12 months, except where the gift 'could not be reasonably thought by others' to relate to their political activities.That investigation was paused when Mr Farage resigned his seat but will resume if he wins the by-election – as is widely expected by bookmakers who have made him the firm favourite to win the contest.The Reform leader could also face an investigation over support provided by George Cottrell, a convicted criminal and long-term ally.Mr Cottrell reportedly recruited and paid three staff to work on Mr Farage's social media before the general election, and has continued to allow him to use a five-storey Georgian property he rented near Buckingham Palace. A boycott by Britain's main political parties left Count Binface, a perennial comedy candidate at Westminster contests, as Mr Farage's most notable rival in ClactonAhead of polling day on Thursday, Mr Farage said the by-election was a chance to 'stick two fingers up to the establishment'.He continued: 'At the beginning of summer we called this by-election to give the people of Clacton the chance to have their say on the endless political attacks on me, my family and those around me.'It's given us the opportunity to knock on tens of thousands of doors, making the affirmative case for what I've done for the area, and what Reform will do for Britain.'He added 'it's not just about me, it's about the people versus the establishment'.The 34 candidates standing in Clacton marks a new high for the most candidates standing in a single seat.The previous record was 26, set at the Haltemprice and Howden by-election in July 2008, which was triggered by Tory David Davis in his own seat and was similarly ignored by the main Westminster parties.