There are political campaigns. There are protest campaigns. And then some campaigns begin with a man wearing a bin on his head, announcing that he has come to save democracy from itself in Clacton.
Nigel Farage’s apparent stunt, which some have described as a ploy to avoid parliamentary scrutiny over his financial affairs, was quickly scuppered when all the major parties announced they would not stand in the byelection. Politicians were quick to make fun of Nigel Farage standing against Count Binface, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves posting on X, “It is a farce and a desperate distraction, and the people of Clacton deserve better. But if he wants to spend the summer arguing with a bin, I won’t stop him”.
Binface was ready and his campaign quickly gathered momentum with a number of high profile media interviews, with Binface delivering one of the shortest and sharpest political put-downs of any election and a clear jibe at Nigel Farage’s appalling record of visiting Clacton and only mentioning Clacton twice in Parliament the last year as their MP and representative. Asked by BBC’s Breakfast show, Sarah Campbell, whether he had ever visited Clacton, quick-witted Binface replied:
“No, because I understand from the current incumbent that is part of how you do the job, so I deliberately stayed away. Is that how it works?
Politics is back, baby! “
When “intergalactic space warrior” Count Binface landed safely in Clacton, many assumed he was just there for laughs.
The internet, however, had other ideas.
Cleaning Up Clacton
The memes kept coming, escalating with Binface’s supporters running beautifully simple slogans such as “It’s time to clean up Clacton”.
Perhaps we might remember the cost of Farage’s self-initiated byelection? Farage and Reform claimed they would pay the bill, they must have known the rules, that this was not possible!
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) spokesperson told LBC “To maintain the independence and impartiality of the electoral process, the law is clear that the cost of running elections must be met from public funds, and not by candidates or political parties.
Nigel Farage is no stranger to accusations of being a “grifter” and some have argued that a succession of recent high-profile questions has done serious damage to his reputation. I will let the readers make their own minds up on them footing the bill for his joke circus election as they struggle to afford a holiday or for many just enough food for the kids.
Binface inspiring others
Binface’s campaigning style has engaged of a lot of other people, inspiring a rash of posting on social media. Some portrayed black bin bags hanging from the windows of Clacton in support of Count Binface.
A particularly inspired meme imagined Nigel Farage rowing away from the white cliffs of Dover in a tiny boat named the Brexit Belter with Count Binface on the beach holding up a sign reading “Leave Means Leave”.
Others went with the boat theme but referred to the ongoing questions surrounding some rather large and donations.
Family voting
Karl Turner MP, took a swipe at Farage’s complaint to the Greater Manchester police that there had been Muslim family-voting during the recent Gorton and Denton by-election.
In my opinion, perhaps Nigel Farage should have issued a public apology for wasting valuable police time since they found no substance to his allegations. Should they not be out fighting real criminals on the streets of Manchester, not having ultra-rich politicians waste their valuable time?
The binmaker’s son
Just when observers thought things couldn’t get any more surreal, the fun took a new twist. Candidates traditionally boast about humble beginnings. Some speak of growing up in council houses, some tell stories about working in factories. With this clear reference to Sir Keir Starmer, “My Father was a bin maker”
Britain’s catchiest campaign song
Seems like Count Binface’s supporters have borrowed from classic children’s TV shows:
“Oh, my MP’s a dustbin, He wears a dustbin’s hat…”
It may not have been Land of Hope and Glory.
But it is undeniably memorable.
And so is this creation by James Cunliffe:
Political strategists spend millions attempting to create slogans that voters remember, have we found a new one for fans to sing on the terraces of Clacton Town FC who I am sure Farage and Binface have visited many times.
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