Asked how he will appeal to the people of Clacton-on-Sea in the upcoming by-election, Count Binface replied quick as a flash: ‘Well, I’m not Nigel Farage.’ The intergalactic space warrior, formerly known as Lord Buckethead, is now the only alien strong enough to head off the Reform UK leader with just weeks to go until the vote.
Count Binface — who first found fame challenging PMs Theresa May and Boris Johnson in their own constituencies — has demanded other major parties stand down, declaring: ‘I will be a unity candidate and pledge to build at least one affordable house. Nigel Farage says he wants the people versus the establishment. So be it. Leave him to me.’
“Count Binface stands against Nigel Farage in Clacton by-election: 'Leave him to me'.”
Behind the mask is Jon Harvey, a stand-up comedian and author born in Croydon and a huge Crystal Palace fan. Harvey has worked on political satires including the BBC’s The Thick of It, Have I Got News for You, and Time Trumpet. In 2019 the New Yorker hailed him for creating one of the ‘Jokes of the Year’ with his Succession parody Recession, subbing in Boris Johnson’s family.
His hilarious election manifesto proposes capping the price of croissants at £1 and forcing former prime ministers to do national service. The Count previously stood against Theresa May in 2017, went viral, then challenged Boris Johnson’s seat as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip. After an unsuccessful bid, he threw his ‘metal’ hat in the ring for the 2021 London mayor election, receiving 24,775 votes. Though he failed to beat Sadiq Khan, he beat the Britain First candidate Nick Scanlon — 24,260 for the Count against Scanlon’s 20,519 votes.
Clacton-on-Sea is a deprived Essex town facing housing issues, drug-dealing, cuckooing, county lines violence, and life expectancy up to 18 years lower than wealthier parts of the county. Now, with Farage as the Reform UK candidate, the Count hopes to vanquish him in a contest that could see the summer spent arguing with a bin.