Reform UK leader Nigel Farage regained his parliamentary seat on Friday by winning the Clacton by-election, but his attempt to use the contest to strengthen his position was undercut by an unlikely challenger: a comedian dressed as a trash can who won more than a quarter of the vote.Farage secured over 62% of the vote in the southern English seaside constituency, comfortably defeating Count Binface, the alter ego of comedian Jonathan Harvey, who took over 26%.Also Read: UK's Farage referred to standards watchdog after new report of undeclared benefitsThe result returned one of Britain's most prominent Brexit campaigners to parliament after he triggered the election last month, saying he wanted a fresh mandate as he fought allegations that he had failed to properly declare financial gifts from donors.But the scale of Count Binface's support offered an unusual indication of the challenge facing Farage and his Reform UK party. With Britain's main political parties withdrawing from the contest and dismissing it as a self-serving political stunt, the election became an unconventional two-way race.Count Binface's manifesto included proposals to cap the price of ice cream cones and conscript people who use speakerphones on public transport, turning the contest into a mix of political theatre and a test of Farage's popularity.Farage himself did not attend the count. He said police had advised him of a campaign to disrupt the result."I am damned if I am going to stand on a stage, having won a resounding victory.... and be demeaned and humiliated by nobodies," Farage told supporters at a party before the result was announced.Farage had framed the election as a battle between voters and an establishment he accused of trying to discredit him over his financial affairs.But his decision to call the vote has faced criticism from across the political spectrum. Other parties pulled out of the race, arguing that the contest was little more than an attempt by Farage to distract from the allegations against him.Laura Richards-Gray, a politics lecturer at Birkbeck University in London, said the absence of serious opposition had weakened Farage's attempt to turn the election into a broader political showdown.Also Read: Count Binface, the man in a can with a plan, seeks Parliament seat in Britain's wackiest election"This has backfired, particularly nationally, as Farage lost control of the narrative," she said, adding that some voters saw the election as "a waste of time and money".Reform momentum shows signs of slowingThe result comes as Reform's strong run in opinion polls appears to be losing momentum.The party's support has fallen partly amid allegations surrounding Farage, who is under investigation by parliament over whether he should have declared a £5 million ($6.75 million) gift from a cryptocurrency billionaire.At the same time, the governing Labour Party has gained ground. Since Andy Burnham became prime minister last month, Labour has enjoyed a bounce in support and now leads Reform by 28% to 25%, according to opinion polling cited in the campaign.Also Read: 'People vs establishment…': Nigel Farage quits as MP amid scrutiny over finances, to contest by-pollBurnham has dominated the political conversation in his first weeks in office and appears to be consolidating support among left-leaning voters, even though the next national election is not expected for another three years.Reform, meanwhile, faces competition for the right-wing vote from the Conservatives, while the anti-immigration party Restore Britain has also been gaining support.That makes Farage's return to parliament significant beyond Clacton. He remains one of the central figures on Britain's political right, but the by-election has done little to settle questions over whether Reform can sustain its momentum nationally.Financial questions remainFarage's victory also does not end the parliamentary investigation into his financial declarations.At its centre is a gift from a Thailand-based billionaire that Farage received before the 2024 national election. Parliamentary rules require MPs to declare donations received during the year before an election within one month of taking office.Farage has acknowledged receiving the money but says he did not need to declare it because it was a personal gift.The parliamentary watchdog is expected to continue its investigation after Farage returns to parliament.If authorities conclude that he breached the declaration rules, Farage could face a suspension from parliament and potentially another vote to retain his seat. In that event, the main political parties would likely field candidates.For now, Farage has won the seat he deliberately put back to voters. But the Clacton result also leaves him with a less comfortable political question: whether his victory represents renewed momentum for Reform, or simply a decisive win in an election in which the most serious opposition chose not to compete.