Rob Pownall has withdrawn from the Clacton by-election after announcing plans to challenge Nigel Farage while dressed as a fox. Pownall said the contest had become a circus and that his cause would not benefit from appearing alongside some other candidates.
The 27-year-old had intended to draw attention to British wildlife and Farage’s support for fox hunting. His announcement drew social media comments accusing him of potentially splitting the vote for novelty candidates. Pownall’s campaign group, Protect the Wild, maintained that his vote total would be too small to affect the result.
Pownall received 18 votes in last month’s Makerfield by-election, where he wore the same fox costume. He also stood dressed as a gannet in May’s Scottish Parliament election for Edinburgh Central, winning 41 votes.
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