This is a poll of the UK public in general, not the people of Clacton, so it doesn’t show that Binface is leading in Clacton. But it’s interesting that the British public prefer Binface to Farage.
“Humans prefer person with sense of humour rather than half-man, half-frog ghoul.”
Please people of Clacton make this happen. Don’t be dickheads.
…again
21% still want Nigel Farage to win… the guy that decided to resign so the people “have the choice” to vote between him and a bin. And on a completely unrelated note would also stop the investigation into his corruption.
Support for Reform correlates with fewer academic qualifications (see chart below, from here) so maybe what has happened is that politicians for too long have failed to help people with fewer academic qualifications. Maybe that’s why such people are willing to support a different sort of politician like Farage.
Count Binface interviewed about actually having a chance of getting in: https://youtube.com/watch?v=HTIESiyDNUQ
I just watched that, good video. I hope his victory is binevitable.
Is this the British version of Vermin Supreme?
Not a dissimilar sort of thing, but novelty candidates have been a staple of British elections for decades.
Normally, they’re not going to stand any realistic chance of winning anything (one exception being when Hartlepool once elected a man dressed as a monkey) but it only costs £500 to register and sometimes that’s worth it for a laugh.
What’s funny in this case is that Nigel Farage is trying to delay or stop an investigation into some of his crimes by stepping down as MP, and then standing for re-election (I don’t quite know how this is meant to work), but all the “real” opposition have refused to field candidates. Count Binface, not officially affiliated with any political party, is standing in opposition - so if it goes ahead, the vote is between Farage and Count Binface, and there’s a chance of Binface winning.
Denmark had a joke candidate who won a term in parliament 1994-1998: Jacob Haugaard.
He ran representing the Party of Intentionally Workshy Elements (slogan: If Employment is Healthy, Give it to the Sick), on a programme of:
- More tailwind on cycle paths [clearly a Danish issue]
- A standard work day of 8 hours spare time, 8 hours of sleep and then 8 hours of rest.
- Army field rations to include Nutella.
- Shorter supermarket queues
When he got in he was clearly terrified, but over time he did participate and take part. I don’t think he could quite believe it.
I loved his parting shot, after his term ended, when his portrait (like that of all MPs) was hung in Parliament and he said: “Let this serve as a warning that any idiot populist can get elected”.
H’angus the monkey turned out to be good at his job and got reelected twice.
You get the £500 back if you get enough votes so let’s hope he gets to keep it.
That is absolutely delightful.
