Makerfield ‘Count Binface’ candidate delivers a slam dunk over Farage

Political candidate Jonathan Harvey — also known as ‘Count Binface’ — stood in the Makerfield by-election for comedy value rather than in hope of winning. But even a comedy candidate has more political honesty than racist Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Notably, the peculiar atmosphere of Makerfield displayed just how easily humour can inform local politics. Quizzed by Sky News about his candidacy and whether he lived in the constituency, Harvey promised he would move there if he won, and reminding viewers that Farage “spends more time in America than in Clacton.”

Farage is notionally the MP for Clacton in Essex, but notorious for his absence. Suspicious minds might wonder whether he spends more time at the £1.4m house in Surrey that he bought after receiving a £5m undeclared donation. In fact, the scandals that surround both Clacton and Makerfield are reminders of current issues with public trust. Or in America, of course. And Binface had a serious word for Burnham, too: that elected mayors should serve their term before abandoning the post to try to become PM:

@skynewsMakerfield by-election candidate Count Binface tells Sky’s Jon Craig he will “price cap Wigan kebabs at £2” and “build at least one affordable house” if he wins. Count Binface also says he’ll move to Makerfield if he’s successful. #SkyNews #CountBinface #Makerfield #byelection♬ original sound – Sky News

Binface’s campaign may be comic, but it does well to expose how thin the line is between satire and actual politics. Additionally, the events in Makerfield show this dichotomy in action.

Burnham’s win means Keir Starmer’s remaining days in No 10 are likely to be short and that’s as it should be. But all the wrong kinds of people — privatisers, financiers and Israel lobbyists — are already clustered around him and clearly influencing his positions.

This suggests none of us are likely to be significantly better off — and that the people of Palestine will continue to face UK-enabled genocide.

Featured image via Count Binface / Instagram