And here we thought American politics could be crazy. As we have reported over the last few days, some allegations over gifts received have prompted the Reform UK Party leader, Member of Parliament (MP) Nigel Farage, to resign from Parliament and immediately seek re-election in the ensuing by-election in his district of Clacton.
That's how their system works. But Nigel Farage has challengers, and they are... well... odd, to say the least. Here's the fun part: One of the oddest of Mr. Farage's opponents is getting big-time support from a major Labour Party donor, who is hoping to see Farage lose to a guy called Count Binface.
One of Labour’s biggest donors has pledged to fund Count Binface in his Clacton by-election battle with Nigel Farage.
Dale Vince, a green energy tycoon who has donated more than £6m to Labour since 2013 via his Ecotricity business, has contacted the self-described intergalactic space warrior’s agent and offered to support him.
Count Binface, the novelty candidate whose real name is Jon Harvey, is the leading opposition candidate to Mr Farage.
In Britain, what we call a "garbage can" they call, for reasons that I can't explain, a "bin." And no kidding, here's Count Binface, being interviewed as though he were a serious candidate:
This is Nigel Farage's opponent in his by-election: Count Binface. You can't make this stuff up. pic.twitter.com/KcBxPBAtS7
— Ward Clark (@TheGreatLander) July 9, 2026
Why would a serious political donor support this goofball? Because he can spend more supporting a candidate than opposing one:
Speaking to The Telegraph Mr Vince said: “I want Binface to win, and I am prepared to support him – morally, verbally and financially if that works for him.”
If Mr Vince wanted to run an anti-Farage campaign in Clacton, he could only spend £700, according to the electoral commission. But he could donate up to £180,050 to Count Binface to spend on campaigning materials during a by-election.
OK, fine; he's playing by the rules that are in place.
Read More: Nigel Farage Resigns in By-Election Challenge to UK Establishment
Nigel Farage: Mass Migration Has Now Dramatically Changed Britain
Why Count Binface? Apparently, the major (serious, except for Labour) parties aren't putting up candidates.
The intervention came after Mr Farage admitted he had been caught off guard by Labour, the Tories, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and Restore Britain all refusing to stand.
It means he faces a weeks-long contest against Count Binface and a handful of minor parties.
Yes, that's right, and here are a couple of those minor party candidates: A guy named Rob Pownall, a "wildlife campaigner" who runs around dressed like a fox, and an as-yet-unnamed candidate from the "Official Monster Raving Loony Party." And, honestly, that last one, well, the name of that party seems to sum up this whole thing very nicely, where a major figure in British politics may well be seeing a considerable opposition from a guy who dresses up as a trash can.
Now, the Reform UK Party is reportedly rallying around Mr. Farage, who I have written and said for some time may well represent Britain's last hope for some return to sanity, never mind whatever greatness they may be able to retain. And, while I think it's staggeringly unlikely, if he were to lose this election to an overt kook like this, well, that doesn't bode well for the future of the once-Great Britain.
Boy howdy, and here I thought Alaska politics were weird.
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