Sometimes the jokes really do write themselves in British politics, don't they? As this week we're watching Reform leader and MP for Clacton, Nigel Farage, take a leaf out of Trump's playbook and calling a byelection. Why? Well, to (possibly) try and distract from the fact he's given multiple different explanations for a £5m donation he received from a Reform crypto donor, which he also didn't initially disclose (something politicians are supposed to do, to y'know, try and avoid being accused of corruption). Farage has denied any wrongdoing.
Anyway, it's all hit the fan and Farage is now seemingly in a two-horse race against none other than Count Binface. Only in the UK, am I right?
Binface, who also recently tried to run against Andy Burnham in the Makerfield MP byelection, has his own set of unique policies and a manifesto, too.
But who is the man behind the bin? What does his manifesto say? Should he go on Masked Singer? Answers below!
Wait, can you explain this Farage vs Binface byelection stuff again?
Yes ofc! Basically, Farage broadcast a speech saying he's standing down from his MP role, before immediately reapplying for it and urging people to vote him in again, in some bizarre stunt that a) could be deemed an attempt to distract from the current investigation into his finances and a £5m 'gift' he received from a crypto billionaire and b) Clacton is generally a pretty safe Reform seat, so Nige is likely expecting it'll be a walk in the park to get back in, will make him seem genuinely popular, untouchable and like nobody really cares about his so-called dodgy dealings.
However, Labour, the Tories, the Lib Dems, Greens and other major parties have said they won't be putting a candidate forward – meaning, Farage won't exactly be able to claim he won by a landslide due to his incredible political prowess. One candidate who is promising to take him on in a battle to be crowned Clacton's Next Top MP is none other than Count Binface. A political protest-type fictional character, with a literal bin for a head... who currently has 9/2 odds to win (around a 1 in 5 chance), according to some bookies.
Everyone's clicking on...
Who the heck is Count Binface?
Despite what the name suggests, Count Binface isn't actually a sentient wheelie bin that's somehow gained British citizenship. He's a satirical political character created and played by British comedian Jon Harvey, who first appeared on the election scene in 2018 after another well-known novelty candidate, Lord Buckethead, became tied up in a copyright dispute (sad times).
Since then, Binface has made a habit of standing against some of the UK's biggest political names – including Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Sadiq Khan – usually with one goal: poking fun at the state of British politics while encouraging people to engage with it.
Most recently, Binface went against likely future Prime Minny, Andy Burnham, in the Makerfield byeleciton.
He's technically the leader of the Binface Party (yes, really), whose manifesto mixes deliberately ridiculous promises with policies that are... actually kind of a slay? Previous pledges have included bringing back Ceefax (RIP), capping the price of croissants and linking ministers' pay to nurses' salaries, so that politicians only get a pay rise if NHS staff do too.
Is Count Binface actually running against Nigel Farage?
Yeah! And his newly updated bio on X reads: "Space politician. Prospective Parliamentary candidate for the Clacton-On-Sea By-Election. Sane." He has also shared promotional posters with the caption 'Game on, Nige'.
What is Count Binface's manifesto for Clacton?
Count Binface hasn't unveiled a dedicated manifesto for the Clacton byelection just yet, so we'll have to wait and see whether he's got any Essex-specific policies up his (silver) sleeve. But if his manifesto for last month's Makerfield byelection is anything to go by, voters can probably expect the usual blend of ridiculous gags and surprisingly sensible ideas.
Among the pledges Binface put forward in Makerfield were capping the price of Wigan kebabs at £2, building one affordable home and implementing a rule that means cyclists who break the highway code must ride a unicycle instead. Binface also vowed to force anyone who uses speakerphone on public transport to be conscripted (can we also suggest those who watch TikTok videos without headphones on the bus?) and stated that 99p Flake ice creams should not legally be allowed to cost any more than 99p.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
