Rob Pownall has withdrawn from the Clacton by-election after planning to challenge Nigel Farage while dressed as a fox. In a video, the 27-year-old campaigner said the contest had become more of a circus than he expected.
Pownall said sharing a stage with Laurence Fox and Luke Worley would not help his cause. He had planned to use the campaign to draw attention to British wildlife and Farage’s support for fox hunting.
His entry drew criticism on social media from people worried he might divide the vote for novelty candidates. Protect the Wild, Pownall’s campaign group, responded that his vote total would be too small to affect the result. He received 18 votes in last month’s Makerfield by-election, also wearing the fox costume.
The Clacton vote follows Farage’s decision to resign as its MP and stand again. Major parties have said they will not field candidates; Count Binface is among those in the race.
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