The Second Most Relieved Man in Britain Tonight

That would be professional bigot Nigel Farage, who defeated parody candidate Count Binface by 63% to 26%.

The most relieved man in Britain tonight is, of course, Count Binface, who would have had to serve as an MP had he won the by-election. (Count Binface is the bloke making the v sign with his finfers).

The fact that Binface lost by only 37% has to be an embarrassment for Farage.

Good. 

Nigel Farage has seen off Count Binface to win the Clacton byelection in a contest boycotted by every other major political party.

The Reform UK leader in July triggered the byelection in an attempt to shake off a deepening scandal over a £5m gift he received from the cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne.

After a campaign in which a record-breaking 34 candidates vied for the coastal seat, Farage held on to Clacton, with 22,239 votes (63.34%) of the vote.

His nearest competitor, Count Binface, a parody candidate dressed as an intergalactic rubbish bin, won 9,455 votes (26.93%). The turnout was 44%.

Farage had been widely expected to win. A poll from Survation on Monday put Farage on 75% of the vote, with Binface on 20%. Farage declared himself the winner while the votes were still being counted.

I did not expect Binface to win, but I was hoping that he would win.