Chris Mason: It's far from certain whether by-election will strengthen Farage

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Chris Mason: It's far from certain whether by-election will strengthen FarageImage source, PA MediaByChris Mason Political editorPublished26 minutes agoNigel Farage's decision to trigger a by-election in his seat of Clacton in Essex took a bizarre twist this morning, when a man who dresses up as a bin and tells the world he lives on the planet Sigma IX began his interview with the . Count Binface's conversation with Justin Webb and Nick Robinson on the 's Today programme came about because he is one of vanishingly few people saying he will run against Farage in the contest expected this summer. As Reform UK could have predicted – and insist that they did – the main parties at Westminster have each said they won't be putting up a candidate in the race.

With Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party all declining to take part, journalistic duty and curiosity led to a spot of scrutiny about a novelty candidate who says he will. Why has Farage resigned and what happens next? Published17 hours agoWhat do Farage's constituents think about his resignation?

The Details

Published19 hours agoSenior figures in Reform say they did price in both scenarios that have since played out: other parties saying they won't stand and some seeking to delay the by-election until after the completion of the ongoing inquiry into Farage by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. The Liberal Democrats have suggested the government should delay appointing Farage to one of the Crown roles a departing MP has to occupy in order to leave the Commons. Clearly, the risk for ministers in doing this would be to play into Reform's argument that what they see as "establishment" parties are blocking their right to a democratic race.

Let's unpack the pros and cons of this move from Farage's perspective. Clearly, less than 24 hours on from his announcement, the downside for him is triggering what some will see as a pointless by-election that his main opponents are avoiding. Is causing a race involving Count Binface, the Monster Raving Loony Party and not many others the action of a prime minister in waiting?

Convention says no, but then again convention has had a rum time of it in recent years. On the upside for him, Farage has had his back against the wall for a couple of months now, facing an avalanche of questions about money and transparency. It has suffocated his capacity to do what he loves – be out in front of the cameras all the time, shaping and often leading the national debate.

This is the act of a man perhaps running out of better ideas. If a by-election was likely anyway, as a potential consequence of the standards commissioner's inquiry, Reform has concluded why not have one now – and argue to the people of Clacton that the other parties care so little about their corner of Essex that they are not even willing to take part in the election.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.