Count Binface

Last updated

Count Binface
Count Binface.jpg
Count Binface at the Glee Club, Birmingham, in 2024
First appearance12 December 2018 [1]
Portrayed byJonathan David Harvey (since 2018)
In-universe information
SpeciesRecyclon
GenderMale
OccupationLeader of the Recyclons
OriginSigma IX

Count Binface is a satirical novelty candidate created by the British comedian Jonathan David Harvey [2] in 2018. [3] He stood as a candidate for Uxbridge and South Ruislip in the 2019 United Kingdom general election against the then prime minister, Boris Johnson, and again at the 2023 by-election that followed Johnson's resignation. He also stood in the London Mayoral elections in 2021 and 2024. [4] In the 2024 general election Binface stood against the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, in his Richmond and Northallerton constituency.

Contents

In earlier elections, Harvey stood as Lord Buckethead, [5] but was forced to change the character due to a copyright dispute with the American filmmaker Todd Durham, who created Lord Buckethead for his 1984 science fiction film Hyperspace . [6] [7] Since then Harvey has used the platform of Binface to promote electoral participation, with the slogan, "Make Your Vote Count".

Originally standing as an independent, since 2023 his affiliation has been given as Count Binface Party on ballot papers. [8]

Character

Count Binface is an "independent space warrior" [9] in a black and grey uniform, with a long silver cape and a helmet shaped somewhat like a dustbin with a glowing strip where his eyes would be. He describes himself as the leader of the Recyclons from the planet Sigma IX, [10] and claims to be over 5,900 years old. [11]

2019 general election policies

Binface announced a series of satirical policies for the 2019 general election, including:

In 2019, another individual contested the Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat as Lord Buckethead, representing the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, to which Binface said he "look[s] forward to both the hustings and to challenging [him] to take part in a receptacle-to-receptacle debate". [17]

2021 London mayoral election

Binface announced his intention to stand for the London Mayoral Election, which was originally scheduled for 2020, but was delayed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He announced a suite of 21 policies which "marries fiscal responsibility, social awareness, and not being an anti-vaccine nutjob", including:

Binface started a fundraiser to raise £10,000, the amount necessary to allow him to stand for Mayor of London. The excess money was donated to the charity Shelter to help combat homelessness. [18] He finished ninth with 24,775 votes in the mayoral election. [22]

2024 London mayoral election

In March 2024, Binface started another fundraiser to allow him to stand in the next London mayoral election, which was held on 2 May 2024. Any funds raised in excess of the necessary £10,000 would again be donated to charity. [23] After gaining the required amount, he announced his entry into the race [4] and released his manifesto, [24] which re-used many policies from previous years but added a few new ones.

The Binface manifesto called for the abolition of VAR [25] (presumably in football matches) and promised to force Thames Water managers to "take a dip in the Thames... see how they like it", in reference to the recent sewage discharge controversy; also to "build at least one affordable house", referring to the housing crisis in London. [26]

He finished in 11th place with 24,260 votes, notably, ahead of Britain First, despite the election's change to a First Past the Post voting system. [27] Incumbent mayor and election winner Sadiq Khan in a victory speech remarked about celebrating "becoming the first person in British political history to win successive victories over Count Binface". [28] He added that Binface finishing ahead of the far-right Britain First candidate was "another reason to love London". [29]

2024 general election

On 7 June 2024, Binface announced his intention to stand as a candidate in the 2024 general election, contesting the Richmond and Northallerton constituency against the then prime minister, Rishi Sunak. Binface said that he was "taking on the biggest fish of the lot" in the election and commented; "You shirked D-Day Rishi, you can't miss the B-Day", a reference to the controversy caused by Sunak's early departure from the ceremonies commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings. [30] Amongst new policies announced in Binface's manifesto was a "space bridge" to solve the traffic problems caused by Northallerton's level crossings and reducing the price of 99 Flake ice creams to 99 pence. [31] He also proposed National Service for former prime ministers and inviting European nations to join the United Kingdom. [32]

Binface enlisted the mathematician and YouTuber Matt Parker to create charts for his free election pamphlet and to act as an election observer on behalf of the Count Binface Party. [33] The Daily Star endorsed both Binface and the Labour Party. [34]

Binface finished sixth of thirteen candidates with 308 votes, representing 0.6% of all the votes cast. [35] He commented on Twitter that it was his best placing and highest ever vote count in a national election and declared that "Bindependence Day has come". [32]

Electoral history

General election 2019: Uxbridge and South Ruislip [36]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Boris Johnson 25,35152.6+1.8
Labour Ali Milani 18,14137.6−2.4
Liberal Democrats Joanne Humphreys3,0266.3+2.3
Green Mark Keir1,0902.3+0.4
UKIP Geoffrey Courtenay2830.6−2.8
Monster Raving Loony Lord Buckethead 1250.3N/A
Independent Count Binface690.1N/A
Independent Alfie Utting440.1N/A
Independent Yace Yogenstein230.0N/A
Independent Norma Burke220.0N/A
Independent Bobby Elmo Smith 80.0N/A
Independent William Tobin 50.0N/A
Turnout 48,17468.5+1.7
Mayor of London election 6 May 2021
PartyCandidate1st round2nd round1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
TotalOf roundTransfersTotalOf round
Labour Sadiq Khan 1,013,72140.0%192,3131,206,03455.2%
​​
Conservative Shaun Bailey 893,05135.3%84,550977,60144.8%
​​
Green Siân Berry 197,9767.8%
​​
Liberal Democrats Luisa Porritt 111,7164.4%
​​
Independent Niko Omilana 49,6282.0%
​​
Reclaim Laurence Fox 47,6341.9%
​​
London Real Brian Rose 31,1111.2%
​​
Rejoin EURichard Hewison28,0121.1%
​​
Count BinfaceCount Binface24,7751.0%
​​
Women's Equality Mandu Reid 21,1820.8%
​​
Let London Live Piers Corbyn 20,6040.8%
​​
Animal Welfare Vanessa Hudson16,8260.7%
​​
UKIP Peter Gammons14,3930.6%
​​
Independent Farah London11,8690.5%
​​
Heritage David Kurten 11,0250.4%
​​
Independent Nims Obunge9,6820.4%
​​
SDP Steve Kelleher8,7640.3%
​​
Renew Kam Balayev7,7740.3%
​​
Independent Max Fosh 6,3090.2%
​​
Burning Pink Valerie Brown5,3050.2%
​​
Labour hold
2023 Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election [37] [38]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Steve Tuckwell 13,965 45.2 −7.4
Labour Danny Beales 13,47043.6+6.0
Green Sarah Green8932.9+0.7
Reclaim Laurence Fox 7142.3New
Liberal Democrats Blaise Baquiche5261.7−4.6
SDP Steve Gardner2480.8New
Independent Kingsley Hamilton Anti-Ulez [a] 2080.7New
Count Binface Count Binface1900.6+0.5
Independent No-Ulez Leo Phaure [a] 1860.6New
Rejoin EU Richard Hewison1050.3New
Let London Live Piers Corbyn 1010.3New
Independent Cameron Bell910.3New
CPA Enomfon Ntefon780.3New
UKIP Rebecca Jane 610.2−0.4
Climate Ed Gemmell490.2New
Monster Raving Loony Howling Laud Hope 320.1−0.2
Independent 77 Joseph [b] 80.0New
Majority4951.6−13.4
Turnout 31,00046.23Decrease2.svg17.3
Registered electors
Conservative hold Swing −6.7
2024 London mayoral election [42]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Sadiq Khan 1,088,225 43.8
Conservative Susan Hall 812,39732.7
Liberal Democrats Rob Blackie 145,1845.8
Green Zoë Garbett145,1145.8
Reform UK Howard Cox78,8653.2
Independent Natalie Campbell47,8151.9
SDP Amy Gallagher 34,4491.4
Animal Welfare Femy Amin29,2801.2
Independent Andreas Michli 26,1211.1
Independent Tarun Ghulati24,7021.0
Count Binface Count Binface 24,2601.0
Britain First Nick Scanlon20,5190.8
London Real Brian Rose7,5010.3
Majority275,82811.1
Turnout 2,484,43240.50Decrease2.svg1.5
Registered electors 6,162,428
Labour hold
General election 2024: Richmond and Northallerton [43]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Rishi Sunak 23,059 47.5 −15.8
Labour Tom Wilson10,87422.46.0
Reform UK Lee Taylor7,14214.7New
Liberal Democrats Daniel Callaghan4,3228.9−3.6
Green Kevin Foster2,0584.20.4
Count Binface Party Count Binface 3080.6New
Independent Brian Richmond2220.5New
Independent Niko Omilana 1600.3New
Yorkshire Rio Goldhammer 1320.3−1.8
Monster Raving Loony Sir Archibald Stanton990.2New
Workers Party Louise Dickens900.2New
Independent Angie Campion330.1New
Independent Jason Barnett270.1New
Majority12,185
Turnout 73,88866−5.6

Notes

  1. 1 2 Names "Anti-Ulez" [39] and "No-Ulez" [40] indicate opposition to London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
  2. ↑ Otherwise known as Thomas Faithful Darwood, his ballot name alludes to Pharaoh's dream interpreted by Joseph in the Book of Genesis. [41]

Books

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Former Lord Buckethead takes aim at rival candidate who took his name as he bids to unseat Boris Johnson". Independent.co.uk . 15 November 2019.
  2. ↑ "New MPs elected at July by-elections". parliament.uk. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  3. ↑ Cockburn, Harry (15 November 2019). "Former Lord Buckethead takes aim at rival candidate who took his name as he bids to unseat Boris Johnson". The Independent. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Count Binface (@CountBinface@mastodon.world)". Mastodon. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  5. ↑ Count Binface (12 March 2021). Hip To Be Mayor! . Retrieved 12 July 2024– via YouTube.
  6. ↑ Waterson, Jim (26 May 2019). "Double trouble: the fight to be the real Lord Buckethead". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019. 'People should know it's not the same person,' said comedian Jon Harvey, confirming for the first time that he was the man in the plastic mask during the 2017 general election. 'It's being run by an American from Beverly Hills.'
  7. ↑ "Comedian Jon Harvey to take on Boris Johnson as Count Binface". comedy.co.uk. 14 November 2019. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019. 'Harvey previously took on Theresa May as Lord Buckethead, but has changed the character after an American-lead copyright dispute'
  8. ↑ "Count Binface". whocanivotefor.co.uk. Democracy Club Community Interest Company. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  9. 1 2 Morrison, Sean (14 November 2019). "Man behind Lord Buckethead to run in PM constituency under new alias". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  10. ↑ Graham, Freya (1 May 2024). "London mayoral election: Who is 'intergalactic space warrior' Count Binface?". Metro. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  11. ↑ "Johnson rival Binface makes bid for Christmas number one". Hillingdon & Uxbridge Times. 6 December 2019. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  12. ↑ Heritage, Stuart (8 June 2017). "The 2017 election awards: from best eating of a Pringle to biggest dolt". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  13. ↑ "Johnson rival Binface makes bid for Christmas number one". South West Londoner. 6 December 2019. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "MANIFESTO!". www.countbinface.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sharma, Ruchira (6 December 2019). "Count Binface lost the rights to Lord Buckethead, but he's still fighting the PM". inews.co.uk . Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  16. ↑ Delahunty, Stephen (6 June 2017). "Alternative Maidenhead candidates go head-to-head at hustings". Maidenhead Advertiser . Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  17. ↑ Jamieson, Alastair (17 November 2019). "Boris versus Binface: The barmy battles in Britain's 'Brexit election'". euronews. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 "Count Binface Runs for Mayor of London". YouTube. Count Binface. 27 February 2020. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  19. ↑ "London 2021 Manifesto". Count Binface. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  20. ↑ "Here is my full manifesto for London. Can any other candidate beat this? No chance! #VoteBinface #MakeYourVoteCount". Twitter. @CountBinface. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  21. ↑ "Count Binface meets Owen Jones". Youtube. Owen Jones. 29 April 2021.
  22. ↑ "Results 2021". London Elects. 9 May 2021. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  23. ↑ "It's time to take out the trash and teach the Tories a lesson they'll never forget. Help me raise the £10k to get on the London Mayoral ballot, and watch me beat Susan Hall! Every extra penny raised goes to charity. Join me here!
    #Budget2024"    . Twitter. @CountBinface. 6 March 2024.
  24. ↑ "Count Binface (@CountBinface@mastodon.world)". Mastodon. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  25. ↑ "Count Binface (@CountBinface@mastodon.world)". Mastodon. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  26. ↑ Keane, Daniel (8 April 2024). "Count Binface unveils manifesto for London Mayoral election including Thames Water pledge". www.standard.co.uk. Evening Standard Limited. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  27. ↑ "London Mayor Election 2024 Candidates and Results". BBC News . Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  28. ↑ "Sadiq Khan celebrates 'successive victories over Count Binface'". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  29. ↑ "Sadiq Khan salutes Count Binface for beating Britain First candidate in London mayoral election". news.sky.com. Sky UK. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  30. ↑ Abruzzese, Phoebe (7 June 2024). "Count Binface to stand against Rishi Sunak in Richmond". www.thenorthernecho.co.uk. The Northern Echo / Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  31. ↑ Nichol, Joshua (17 June 2024). "Count Binface launches Richmond and Northallerton manifesto". www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk. Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  32. 1 2 Cotrell, Hannah (5 July 2024). "How Count Binface, Captain Beany, Elmo and other quirky candidates did in the election". www.independent.co.uk. Independent Digital News and Media Limited. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  33. ↑ Parker, Matt (3 July 2024). "UK Election charts are a nightmare". www.youtube.com. Stand-up Maths. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  34. ↑ Dominic Ponsford; Charlotte Tobitt; Bron Maher (4 July 2024). "General election 2024 endorsements: Most of Fleet Street votes Labour". Press Gazette . Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  35. ↑ "Richmond and Northallerton results – General election 2024". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  36. ↑ "Uxbridge & Ruislip South parliamentary constituency – Election 2019". BBC News. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  37. ↑ Rufo, Yasmin (23 June 2023). "Uxbridge by-election full candidate list revealed". BBC News . Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  38. ↑ "Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election 2023 results". Hillingdon Council. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  39. ↑ "Candidate Kingsley Hamilton". Getty Images. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  40. ↑ "Candidate Leo Phaure". Getty Images. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  41. ↑ "Joseph77". Joseph77. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  42. ↑ "London Mayor election results". BBC News . 23 June 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  43. ↑ "Richmond and Northallerton results". BBC. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
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