In case you weren't aware, politics in the UK is a bit... trash at the moment.
No, I mean literally. A by-election triggered by a member of Parliament in Clacton-on-sea prompted a man dubbing himself an intergalactic space-warrior to run against him.
Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform Party, had originally resigned because of a scandal regarding undisclosed payments. However, he chose to run again in a re-election bid - prompting all other parties to boycott the election.
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Who is "Count Binface"?
Well, "Count Binface" is a joke candidate fist and foremost. He wears his signature trash bin as a helmet, and a cosmic gray cloak. He has been contesting elections with prominent political candidates in the UK ever since 2017.
"Count Binface" styles himself as an intergalactic species, a "Recyclon", whose home planet is named Sigma IX.
But, up until now, his election promises and whole story haven't really reached the public limelight. So, let's look into his policies - because they are hilarious.
Here are some of the best of his official manifesto, per his website:
- I will cut your taxes, and raise everyone else's.
- I pledge to build at least one affordable house.
- A referendum on whether Pluto should regain its planet status.
- People who drive past Clacton station with annoyingly loud exhausts to lose their license.
He also took the time to take some jabs at Nigel Farage and his scandals:
- MPs who resign mid-Parliament to be barred from the resulting by-election
- I promise to spend more time in Clacton-on-sea than in Washington DC, and to champion the area.
How Successful Was the Binface?
Well, to put it this way, he's as successful as he's ever been. He received an amazing 9,455 votes, per the BBC. He was beaten out by Nigel Farage, however, who received over 22,000 votes himself.
But, in any case, this is a lot better than his previous results. He normally averages less than 1% of the vote share. However, because other parties didn't stand in the election in Clacton, the spotlight was on him.
While we won't be seeing a dual-citizen of Sigma IX and Clacton-on-sea talk to the Prime Minister of the UK any time soon, one thing remains clear - he's certainly made waves!
