Labour's candidate for Greater Manchester mayor, Bev Craig, has publicly endorsed Count Binface in the upcoming Clacton-on-Sea by-election, where the novelty candidate is expected to be the main opponent to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Craig told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she supports Binface's policy to cap the price of a 99 Flake ice cream at 99 pence, after she recently paid £2.50 for a plain cone with strawberry sauce.
By-election Context
The by-election, scheduled for August 13, was triggered after Nigel Farage resigned as MP for Clacton following controversies over a £5 million donation and scrutiny of his personal finances. Farage then announced he would stand for re-election. However, Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and Restore Britain have all declined to field candidates, leaving Count Binface as the primary challenger.
Surge in Support for Binface
Count Binface, the persona of comedian Jonathan Harvey, has seen a surge in support, raising over £15,000 in donations in a single day. The Telegraph reported that Labour donor Dale Vince could contribute up to £180,000 to the campaign. Harvey's character, an intergalactic space warrior from planet Sigma IX who claims to be over 5,900 years old, has become a well-known novelty candidate, having previously challenged Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak.
Craig's Endorsement
When asked about her endorsement, Craig stated: "Count Binface every day. I know the Labour Party have got some set rules that you are not meant to be going campaigning for other candidates but if ever there is a moment to stand behind a bin on August 13, I'm there." She specifically backed Binface's ice cream price cap policy, adding: "I'm up for a 99 costing 99p because I spent £2.50 on an ice cream the other day and they called it a 99p. I'm up for Count Binface's policy that if you're going for a 99 with the Flake, [it's got to be] 99p."
Previous Binface Campaigns
Some Greater Manchester residents may recall Binface's previous run in the Makerfield by-election, where he received 95 votes against Labour's Andy Burnham, who won with 24,927 votes. His manifesto included pledges to cap Wigan kebab prices at £2, force cyclists who break the highway code to ride unicycles, and build at least one affordable house. Burnham, who was criticized by Binface for not serving his full term as mayor, has also thrown his support behind the joke candidate, calling him "carrying the hopes of the nation" in his battle against Farage.
