Nigel Farage secured a confortable victory in the UK parliamentary by-election. However, the biggest challenge emerged was a self-proclaimed intergalactic space warrior dressed as a trash can, in a contest that was boycotted by all major Westminster parties.

There are more votes in tolerance and decency than in toxic division. It doesn’t take a great leap of political courage to fight back against Reform, says Guardian columnist…

Nigel Farage is the clear favourite, but Count Binface is attracting serious support in a by-election featuring a record 34 candidates, including an Australian software engineer…