Count Binface – self-described “space politician” and staunch defender of 99p flake ice creams – is drawing unprecedented attention across the country in the lead-up to the Clacton by-election.
Jonathan David Harvey, a British scriptwriter, has run in six different electoral cycles since 2019 as the novelty candidate.
These include the 2019 general election, the 2021 and 2024 London mayoral races and the recent by-election in Makerfield which saw PM-in-waiting Andy Burnham elected.
The satirical figure has seen a surge in popularity following Nigel Farage’s resignation as an MP and his subsequent announcement of a by-election.
The Labour Party, the Tories, Liberal Democrats, Greens, and Restore Britain all refused to stand candidates in the by-election, calling it a “stunt” and leaving Count Binface as the Reform leader’s main opposition.
Eight other contestants are running, including four independents, and candidates from the Forward Party, Reclaim, Balanced Britain Party, and the British Democrats.
The news comes as the Reform UK leader has been under increasing pressure as scrutiny grows over his financial affairs, including questions over a £5 million gift from cryptocurrency billionaire and party donor Christopher Harborne.
Given a head-to-head choice between the two candidates, 33 per cent of British adults said they would prefer Count Binface to win, while only 21 per cent would back the Reform UK leader, polling from Ipsos found.
Within 24 hours of Mr Farage’s resignation, more than 5,000 people donated to Count Binface’s emergency campaign fund, raising more than £15,000 to cover his deposit and leafleting costs.
As the self-described “intergalactic space warrior” currently stands as the most prominent alternative to Mr Farage, Count Binface has drawn support from across the political spectrum.
Following his successful campaign in Makerfield, Mr Burnham is currently the only person in the running to become the next Labour leader.
Posting an image of the two shaking hands on social media platform X, the future prime minister captioned the post: “Always worth knowing when bin day is.”
He later wrote: “I am not going to talk politics to you tonight except to say except to say this: Count Binface, you are carrying the hopes of the nation. Don’t let us down.”
A prominent climate campaigner and political donor, Dale Vince is the owner of Forest Green Rovers football club – the world’s first vegan football club.
He is widely known for backing environmental causes and progressive candidates, and the green energy tycoon has donated to both the Labour Party and Green Party and endorsed politicians from both parties.
Speaking to The Telegraph, he has since pledged an open-ended financial commitment to Count Binface’s campaign, stating: "I want Binface to win, and I am prepared to support him – morally, verbally and financially if that works for him."
Count Binface has managed to attract the attention of several other politicians, generating a huge amount of discussion. Here’s what they have said, though they haven’t quite backed him.
Having announced in May he would resign from his role as prime minister following a series of controversies, including appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, Sir Keir Starmer is expected to officially step down on 20 July.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of this week’s Nato Summit in Turkey, the current Labour leader was asked for his thoughts on Count Binface.
Responding with a wry smile, Sir Keir said: “I think it’s actually against Labour Party rules to endorse another [candidate].”
The Conservative Party leader took to Sky News, where she praised Count Binface as the ultimate democratic candidate for Clacton’s voters.
On the by-election, she said: “Nigel Farage likes to claim that this race is the people versus the establishment.
“Well, if he's the establishment here, then in this context, Binface may be the people."
While the chancellor has since declared the by-election a “farce”, she refused to block it from going ahead and said if Mr Farage “wants to spend the summer arguing with a bin, I won’t stop him”.
With the Clacton by-election to be held on 13 August, voters will decide whether the satirical candidate’s latest challenge amounts to little more than comic relief.
