Count Binface, the intergalactic space warrior and satirical political candidate, has announced his intention to stand in the upcoming Clacton-on-Sea by-election, positioning himself as the only candidate capable of defeating Nigel Farage. Asked how he will appeal to voters, Binface responded: 'Well, I’m not Nigel Farage.'
Who Is Count Binface?
Count Binface, formerly known as Lord Buckethead, is the alter ego of Jon Harvey, a stand-up comedian and author from Croydon. Harvey is a lifelong Crystal Palace fan and has worked on political satires such as the BBC’s The Thick of It, Have I Got News for You, and Time Trumpet. He has also presented for Times Radio. In 2019, the New Yorker hailed him for creating one of the 'Jokes of the Year' with his Succession parody Recession, which substituted Boris Johnson’s family.
Binface describes himself as 'an intergalactic space warrior and leader of the Recyclons from planet Sigma IX.' His official website states that he 'stood against Theresa May in 2017 and went viral (in a non-Covid way).' He later challenged Boris Johnson in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat, which Johnson had held since 2015.
Political Career and Electoral Performance
In the 2019 general election, Count Binface received 69 votes, losing to a new performer portraying Lord Buckethead, who garnered 125 votes. However, he came ninth in the 2021 London mayoral election with 24,775 first-choice votes, defeating Piers Corbyn and UKIP. 'This is a new record for an alien standing for public office on planet Earth,' he said.
In the 2023 Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election, he earned 190 votes, again beating Piers Corbyn, UKIP, and the Official Monster Raving Loony Party. In 2024, he received 308 votes against Rishi Sunak in the general election and 95 votes against Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election. In the 2021 London mayoral race, he outpaced Britain First candidate Nick Scanlon, with 24,260 votes to Scanlon’s 20,519.
Manifesto and Policies
Binface has not yet unveiled a dedicated manifesto for the Clacton by-election, but his previous pledges include capping the price of croissants at £1, forcing former prime ministers to do national service, cutting taxes for supporters while raising them for others, and capping the prices of ice creams and kebabs. He also promises to improve local traffic flow, provide reliable train Wi-Fi and trains that actually run, and abolish automatic subscription renewals.
Other policies include conscripting people who use speakerphones on public transport, forcing cyclists who ignore the Highway Code to ride unicycles, banning VAR in football, and entering himself as the UK’s Eurovision 2027 contestant. He has called for other major parties to stand down, stating: 'I will be a unity candidate and pledge to build at least one affordable house. Nigel Farage says he wants the people versus the establishment. So be it. Leave him to me.'
Name Change from Lord Buckethead
Until 2018, Binface was known as Lord Buckethead, but a copyright dispute with US filmmaker Todd Durham forced the change. Lord Buckethead first appeared in Durham’s 1984 sci-fi film Hyperspace as an intergalactic villain. A version of the character, not played by Jon Harvey, stood in the 1987 and 1992 UK general elections, portrayed by Mike Lee, who owned the UK distribution company for the film. After Harvey’s unofficial portrayal went viral in 2017, a legal dispute arose. As Binface writes on his website: 'In 2018 I had an unfortunate battle on the planet Copyright. An elderly American human film producer took my Twitter account off me after I got famous. So I had an upgrade and took on Boris Johnson in the 2019 election in my new and improved form, Count Binface.'
Clacton Context and Prospects
Clacton-on-Sea is a deprived coastal town in Essex with issues including housing, drug-dealing, cuckooing, county lines violence, and life expectancy up to 18 years lower than wealthier parts of the county. With no other non-Farage rivals in sight, Binface’s vote share is expected to increase significantly. He surprised crowds at Glastonbury Festival in 2024 with an appearance on the Park Stage, garnering support from fans who commented on his policies.
