COUNT BINFACE GETS SPONSOR FOR BY-ELECTION –  Dale Vince offers to fund  Count Binface’s fight against Farage 

One of Labour’s biggest donors has pledged to fund Count Binface in his Clacton by-election battle with Nigel Farage.

Dale Vince, a green energy tycoon who has donated more than £6m to Labour since 2013 via his Ecotricity business, has contacted the self-described intergalactic space warrior’s agent and offered to support him.

Count Binface, the novelty candidate whose real name is Jon Harvey, is the leading opposition candidate to Mr Farage.

Farage, who said he expected rivals to fight for the vacated seat, resigned as the MP for Clacton on Tuesday amid an investigation into donations he received.  All the major political parties have refused to stand candidates against him in the resulting by-election.

Speaking to reporters Mr Vince said: “I want Binface to win, and I am prepared to support him – morally, verbally and financially if that works for him.”

If Mr Vince wanted to run an anti-Farage campaign in Clacton, he could only spend £700, according to the electoral commission. But he could donate up to £180,050 to Count Binface to spend on campaigning materials during a by-election.