Satirical candidates are a long-standing tradition in British politics. When former Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a victory speech after winning his north London seat in the 2024 General Election, he was flanked by someone in an Elmo costume and a man wearing a laboratory coat and a comically large hat. To the uninitiated, it may have seemed as though a major security breach had taken place. In reality, those were just some of the candidates Starmer had defeated.
But few, if any, novelty candidates have made as much of an impression as Count Binface. The self-described “intergalactic space warrior” wears a garbage can on his head and has become a regular name on election ballots across England over the past decade. He recently went up against Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election, and was among the first to congratulate Burnham on his victory, which cleared the now-Prime Minister’s pathway back to Westminster.
Now, Count Binface has landed himself firmly in the middle of the fraught Clacton by-election taking place Thursday, emerging as the main rival for Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing populist Reform UK party and a long-time ally of President Donald Trump.
In July, amid mounting scrutiny over undisclosed gifts and donations, Farage resigned as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton, a coastal town in the east of England, in order to trigger a by-election in which he could run.
"I've decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions," he said, predicting a “people vs. the establishment by-election” would soon follow.
The main political parties in the U.K. said they would not be taking part in the by-election, which the Conservatives leader referred to as a "fake" election intended to distract people from the investigation into Farage's finances.
It remains to be seen if Farage’s gamble will pay off when voters head to the polls. A Survation poll conducted in July suggested 73% of Clacton adults may vote for Farage, with 20% of those remaining opting for Count Binface. Still, the British media is jubilantly anticipating a “showdown” between Farage and his garbage can-wearing adversary.
Ahead of the polls opening, TIME’s Richard Hall caught up with Count Binface. True to form, the comedian, whose real name is Jon Harvey, stayed in character throughout the conversation.
(This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity).
TIME: Our readers from all around the world may not be familiar with the peculiarities of British politics or your political platform. Can you introduce us to Count Binface, the candidate?
Count Binface: I am an intergalactic space warrior, leader of the Recyclons from planet Sigma IX, and a part-time democratic politician on Earth. My hobbies include invading star systems, dominating species, and watching the Lovejoy box set. That won't mean anything to most of your readers, but it should. It’s the greatest art your planet has produced. Well, that and the Sistine Chapel.
You have stood in a number of elections, sometimes in different forms. Can you tell us what drew you to this one in Clacton?
Clacton is where the election is. If I’d gone elsewhere, it would have been less effective. Dare I say it, we wouldn't be talking now.
You've stood in many elections, and lost them all. This time people appear to be taking you a bit more seriously. They think you may be able to improve on your previous personal best of 308 votes. Why do you think that is?
I have lost my previous seven elections on Earth, but only numerically. Let's look at my past opponents. Theresa May, remember her? Thought not. Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak, they’re all on [the] scrapheap of history, something I know a lot about. And yet I am going stronger than ever. I'm playing the long game. Do I think I can beat 308 in Clacton? I wouldn't want to presume. Let's see what happens.
This time you're up against Nigel Farage, a man mired in a personal financing scandal. What does it tell us about British politics that people are considering voting for a garbage can over a real human?
Mr Farage's finances are a matter for him, but he has decided to make them a matter for the Clacton electorate, too. I'm not interested in ad hominem attacks on any of my 33 opponents. But do I think it's strategically odd to call a by-election while you're being investigated by a parliamentary committee, the result of which could also lead to a by-election? Yes I do. Is that a waste of time and money? You might think so. I couldn't possibly comment.
As for why they're choosing me, I offer the perfect blend of fully-costed policies, intergalactic drip, and as bizarre as it seems, I'll be the best local champion for the inhabitants of the area.
Your policies include a “windfall tax on cosy crime novels written by celebrities” and a referendum on whether Pluto should regain its planet status. How have the people of Clacton reacted to your manifesto, and to your campaign in general?
I've been very gratified by the response both on the ground and in cyberspace. In actual fact, the policies you mention aren't the biggest hits so far. Top of the pops is my pledge that 99 Flake ice creams [a British tradition for generations] should be price-capped at 99p. For a seaside town, this was a no-brainer.
Another one which has done well in polling is this: Bosses of privatised water companies take a dip in British rivers to see how they like it, because they're full of excrement and all sorts. Curiously, I didn't even put this one in my Clacton manifesto, but I stand by all my past commitments, so this is an active pledge.
If we wake up on the morning after this election and Count Binface has been defeated by Nigel Farage, what do you want people to have taken away from your campaign? And will you stick around for your opponent's victory speech?
I hope they take the policies, my broader points, a smile, and a rehabilitated respect for democracy. Yes, of course, all candidates should respect the winner's victory speech. I'm sure Nigel will stick around to listen.