It has been a brilliant story for Nigel Farage's critics. Not only has he called a by-election that none of his principal opponents are willing to contest, but it also seemed his only opponent might be John Harvey, who regularly stands in by-elections attired as Count Binface. What would happen if Mr Harvey won? Would he be allowed to wear his bin in the Commons? Is Mr Farage's parliamentary career about to be chucked into the bin? The Clacton by-election was apparently turning into a farce.