Count Binface, the comedian-turned-political candidate, has released a 20-point manifesto for the Clacton-on-Sea by-election that includes a pledge to move the hand dryer in the gents' toilet at the Great Himalayas restaurant in Southport.
Hand dryer pledge and restaurant reaction
The manifesto, published on Monday, promises: "The hand-dryer in the gents' toilet at the Great Himalayas restaurant, Southport, to be moved to a more sensible position."
On his website countbinface.com, a section labelled "handdryergate" explains he previously pledged to move the hand dryer in the men's toilets at the Crown and Treaty in Uxbridge, and that a treaty would be signed in the pub if elected.
He has since described the "scandal gets deeper" after posting a photo showing the hand dryer positioned close to the urinal in the small men's toilets at the Southport restaurant.
Below the photo, it reads: "Lethal, I'm sure you agree. If you spot any similar travesties, send me a photo. (Careful when you do it, obviously)."
The Nepalese restaurant responded on Facebook: "We’ve had a right giggle this morning. Our hand dryer keeps getting mentioned in comments and messages, and we genuinely couldn’t work out why… Then we saw number 17… ( thanks to all the messages who helped us figure out what was going on). Count Binface… if you’re reading this… where should we move it to?"
Other manifesto points and by-election context
Other manifesto pledges include wanting Wayne Rooney to be an expert summariser for the BBC at Eurovision, capping bus fares at £1.99, limiting 99 Flake ice creams to 99p, and having Count Binface represent the UK at Eurovision 2027 with Clacton hosting in 2028.
Count Binface is seen as Nigel Farage's key opponent in the by-election, as Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats all refused to field candidates when the Reform UK leader stepped down to trigger the election earlier this month.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch labelled it a "joke" by-election.
Nigel Farage donation scrutiny
Shortly before his resignation as MP on July 7, Farage faced questions over a £5 million gift from crypto-billionaire and Reform donor Christopher Harborne.
Farage has billed the by-election, likely on August 13, as a “people versus the establishment” contest. However, he has faced further scrutiny over donations to Reform UK by a company controlled by deputy leader Richard Tice.
The Metropolitan Police is investigating two donations of £250,000 made before the 2024 general election by Britain Means Business, according to The Times. The money was paid to Tice's company by Reform donor Fiona Cottrell, who is said to have given £1 million to Britain Means Business in June 2024, half of which went to Reform.
Police are examining the transactions involving Tice’s company, as first reported by the BBC.
Richard Tice said: “The BBC article is the first I have heard of it – if true why are the Met Police briefing the BBC before contacting interested parties? Is the Met leadership now engaged in the widespread politically motivated smear campaign against Reform and its leaders? Please remember the National Crime Agency is now having to investigate its own potential criminal offences against Reform leaders.”
A Reform UK spokesman said: “Reform takes pride in its stringent vetting of donations and always ensures that the Electoral Commission guidelines on donations, as set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, are strictly followed, as has been the case with donations so far.”
The Met said two people have been interviewed under caution.
