From Count Binface to Elmo: The British tradition of novelty candidates

Published August 13, 2026 8:14am ET



Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage is set to walk away with the election in Clacton-on-Sea, where he is running without competition from any other mainstream party.

His only opposition comes from the costumed, other-worldly joke candidate known as Count Binface — the alter ego of British comedian Jon Harvey. Dressed in a spacesuit and trashcan-inspired helmet, Binface is polling around 20%. It’s a respectable showing for a self-described “alien” and “space warrior,” but he has little chance of overcoming his rival, who is polling at 73%.

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