Today, the 13th of August, voters will cast their ballots in what might be one of the most needless by-elections in history. Following weeks of calls for investigation into a £5 million donation given to Farage by a crypto billionaire, the Reform UK leader suddenly resigned from his post as the MP for Clacton, only to then immediately stand for re-election in the upcoming by-election forced by his resignation.
Seeing the move as a political stunt, the rest of the major parties in the UK decided not to stand against Farage. This doesn't mean he's running unopposed. Quite the opposite, as Reuters states the by-election has resulted in the longest ballot paper in British political history. More than 30 individuals are standing against Farage, including comedians and independent politicians. If there's one lead in the opposition race, though, it's Count Binface.
Created by comedian Jonathan Harvey, Count Binface claims to be from outer space, and has run against multiple politicians in the past, often just so he can grab a photo opportunity next to the winner of a Parliament seat, showing the contrast between a serious politician and his outlandish character.
It's unusual for a joke candidate to be the leading opposition, but even if Binface isn't looking to win, he is hoping to show how much of a farce the Clacton by-election is.
