Man dressed as fox pulls out of Clacton election because it’s become a ‘circus’

Even the fox can see through Nigel 'Mirage'

With Count Binface, Lawrence Fox and Nigel Farage, there's no shortage of comedy contenders set to run in the Clacton by-election.

However, the man behind the fox suit Rob Pownall is set to drop his intention to run in the vote after describing the whole thing as a "circus".

The campaigner uses the suit and national elections to try and draw attention to the challenges facing British wildlife, as well as Farage's support for fox hunting.

He took part in the recent Makerfield by-election and went viral for his rather quirky looking outfit standing next to the incoming prime minister.

Last Thursday (9 July), Pownall, 27, said that he planned to stand in the Clacton by-election, before pulling out on Tuesday (14 July) calling the whole thing a "farce".

The campaigner came in joint second-last in the Makerfield by-election, receiving 18 votes.

In a video posted to his social media page under the name of his campaign group 'Protect the Wild', Pownall explained why he was quitting the election.

Ron Pownall in the fox suit at the Makerfield by-election. Credit: Getty.

He said: "I'm pulling out of the Clacton by election, let me tell you why.

"Over the past couple of months I have stood in two national elections, each time there is a real purpose behind the costume.

"When I stood against Andy Burnham in Makerfield it got me a direct conversation with the man who is set to become prime minister

"When I stood for the Scottish parliament dressed as a giant gannet it was about putting the Guga hunt in as front of as people as possible.

"Clacton was no different, the point was never to win a seat it was to make one argument stick

"Farage cannot call himself anti-establishment while defending fox hunting because it tells you everything about whether is party can be trusted on animals.

"We've made that argument without ever officially entering the contest.

"This by election was already something of a farce, I think we all know that, but it's now become more of a circus than even I expected."

Pownall went on to highlight the fact that the likes of Laurence Fox running in the election doesn't help their cause in sharing a stage with them.

He added: "The people of Clacton frankly deserve better than to have this facade of democracy dropped on their doorstep."