UK Elections: 'Joke Candidate' Count Binface, Who Contested Against Rishi Sunak, Grabs 6th Spot

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak may have retained his seat in the 2024 UK general elections, but this was not without opposition from Count Binface — an “intergalactic space warrior”. The satirical candidate, played by comedian Jonathan David Harvey, managed to get over 300 votes, which has been his best vote count, ever since the start of his political career in 2018. Count Binface celebrated his personal best as he competed from the Richmond and Northallerton constituency.

In a cheeky post on X, he took a potshot at his opponent Rishi Sunak as he wrote, “My highest ever finish: 6th. My highest ever parliamentary vote: 308. My highest height advantage: 2ft 6in.” Count Binface proclaimed the election day, July 4, as “Bindependence Day”, which was the poll date in the UK and Independence day in the USA. He shared a screengrab from the news that showed him standing next to Rishi Sunak as they joined all other candidates at an official event.

Count Binface describes himself as the leader of the Recyclons from the planet Sigma XI. He is 5,900 years old and wears a long silver cape with a headgear which looks like a dustbin. He is one among the many “joke candidates” from the UK who fight the elections under made-up personas with the aim of poking fun at political parties through humour and satire.

The “intergalactic” candidate promised to make at least “one affordable home”, start mandatory national service for all former prime ministers and initiate the “nationalisation of singer Adele”. He also added that if he comes to power, he will cap the price of croissants at 1.10 pounds and represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Count Binface continues the longstanding tradition of joke candidates in UK politics that traces its history to the 1980s, when the Monster Raving Loony Party registered as a political party and fielded two candidates. The party, with its motto Vote for Insanity, has been contesting elections since 1980.

In conversation with Daily Mail, the only paper that endorsed his candidature, Count Binface said, “It might be true that on Thursday night or Friday morning I haven’t beaten Rishi Sunak numerically, but I would argue the moral victory will be mine.”

Count Binface previously stood against two former prime ministers, Theresa May in 2017 and Boris Johnson in 2019. He also contested London’s mayoral elections in 2021 and in May this year.

This year, other joke candidates were AI Steve’, who aims to be the world’s first artificial intelligence politician and the Psychedelic Movement Party candidate, who wants to open 24-hour cannabis cafes.

Most joke candidates fail to secure even 5% of the vote and in turn lose their £500 deposit. Interestingly, in a rare event, Stuart Drummond, who stood as H’Angus the Monkey, was elected as the mayor of Hartlepool in 2002. Even though he was not expecting to win, Drummond took his job seriously after the results were declared. He then went on to win three terms as the mayor. In 2021, he relocated to Australia with his family.