Rob Pownall has withdrawn from the Clacton by-election after announcing plans to stand against Nigel Farage while dressed as a fox. The 27-year-old campaigner described the contest as a farce and said it had become more of a circus than he expected.
Pownall had hoped to draw attention to British wildlife and Farage’s support for fox hunting. In a video announcing his withdrawal, he said sharing the contest with Laurence Fox and former Married at First Sight participant Luke Worley would not help his cause.
His proposed candidacy had drawn criticism on social media from people concerned he might split the vote among novelty candidates. Pownall received 18 votes in the Makerfield by-election last month while wearing the fox costume. He also stood in May’s Scottish Parliament election dressed as a gannet, winning 41 votes in Edinburgh Central.
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