{"id":2289006,"date":"2024-07-03T23:38:01","date_gmt":"2024-07-04T03:38:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/count-binface-a-stunt-obsessed-davey-and-a-returning-farage-big-players-in-the-uk-election-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-07-03T23:43:41","modified_gmt":"2024-07-04T03:43:41","slug":"count-binface-a-stunt-obsessed-davey-and-a-returning-farage-big-players-in-the-uk-election-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/count-binface-a-stunt-obsessed-davey-and-a-returning-farage-big-players-in-the-uk-election-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Count Binface, a stunt-obsessed Davey, and a returning Farage: Big players in the UK election &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">36<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcount-binface-a-stunt-obsessed-davey-and-a-returning-farage-big-players-in-the-uk-election-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2289006&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>&#8220;\u2063 target=&#8221;_blank&#8221; rel=&#8221;noopener&#8221; title=&#8221;from&#8221;>from<\/a> \u200b Sky News called him the \u201canti-charisma \u200ccandidate,\u201d remarking on his lack \u2063of profile, but \u2064his\u200b political stature \u200dhas not seemed to affect the\u200b party\u2019s chances.<\/p>\n<p>His election campaign is built around issues \u2062that the Conservatives have struggled\u200c with, most notably \u2063illegal\u200d immigration. During the campaign, Starmer \u200dvowed to build three \u2063new facilities across \u200dthe\u200d country to house illegal immigrants while their claims for asylum\u2062 are processed and promised he would\u200d get tough on \u200dcountries failing to cooperate with the\u200c U.K. in \u200dtaking back\u2062 their \u2063nationals.<\/p>\n<p>He has also vowed \u2063to beef up sanctuaries for\u200b illegal migrants fleeing persecution \u2013 a policy the Conservatives labeled a \u201ctax on Britain.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If\u200b any party is poised to claim\u2062 victory in \u2063the days following the \u200belection, it is Labour.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nigel Farage \u2013\u2062 Reform<\/h3>\n<p>Nigel\u200b Farage is \u2062on the comeback trail after\u200d his surprise retirement from front-line politics in 2021. He leads the newest \u200bparty\u200b in the U.K., Reform, which has indicated it could\u200b attract\u200b disillusioned voters from both\u2064 major parties.<\/p>\n<p>Farage, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/psaki-dodges-on-why-americans-feel-unsafe-under-biden\/\" title=\"Psaki Dodges On Why Americans Feel Unsafe Under Biden\">long-time advocate<\/a> for Brexit, claims \u2063the major parties have \u201cshifted the goalposts\u201d \u2064and left the \u201cpeople behind\u201d in their handling\u200c of leaving the European Union.<\/p>\n<p>His party is third in the polls, \u2064making it the most popular \u200dminor party in the race. However,\u2062 it remains to be seen whether voters will support another upstart party after multiple independents and smaller parties have failed \u2063to deliver in\u2063 previous elections.<\/p>\n<p>Reform\u2019s strategy\u2062 has been to focus on areas not covered by\u2063 the main\u2063 parties, such as identity issues, law and order, \u2063and economic policies that will help the working class. Farage, known for his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/make-twitter-show-their-work-how-elon-musk-can-ensure-twitter-protects-free-speech\/\" title=\"\u2018Make Twitter Show Their Work\u2019: How Elon Musk Can Ensure Twitter Protects Free Speech\">decade-long campaign<\/a> to leave \u200bthe European Union, has pledged to\u2063 make immigration a key issue \u2062in the campaign.<\/p>\n<p>The former \u200bleader of the United Kingdom Independence Party, which successfully\u200b campaigned \u200dfor Britain\u2019s departure from the EU, has attempted to leverage his\u200d Brexit credentials to create a new,\u200c more inclusive movement. It\u2064 remains\u200d to be seen if UKIP voters will take \u200bto this \u200dnew venture.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Davey \u2013 Count Binface<\/hh3> <\/p>\n<p>David Hughes, also known\u2062 as \u2064Count Binface and\u200c formerly as Lord\u200c Buckethead, is a performance artist who has run as \u200ba candidate in \u2062various elections in the U.K. under different guises.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps his most famous performance was against Margaret Thatcher\u200c in 1987, when he\u200d received just \u2063131 votes. Binface\u2019s campaigns are intended\u2063 as satirical commentary on candidates \u2062and their \u200cpolicies,\u200c and have \u2062built up a \u2063large following over the years.<\/p>\n<p>He has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/count-binface-uk-election-candidate-policies-free-gogglebox-for-all-2024-7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>promised<\/a> to introduce an incentive program \u200bfor voters,\u2064 giving a free subscription to a\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/president-trump-preemptively-resigns-from-the-screen-actors-guild\/\" title=\"President Trump preemptively resigns from the Screen Actors Guild\">popular television show<\/a> \u2064on Channel 4, \u201cGogglebox,\u201d to all \u2063who turn \u200cup to vote. His platform contains a\u2062 mix\u2062 of satirical policies and \u2064solemn pledges, including\u200b battling climate change, spearheading anti-bullying\u2064 measures, and attracting \u200bpeople to the polls.<\/p>\n<p>Binface has\u200d a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/state-legislatures-push-to-fight-big-tech-but-experts-warn-of-limitations\/\" title=\"State Legislatures Push to Fight Big Tech, but Experts Warn of Limitations\">large social media<\/a> following and gained traction \u200ddue to\u2062 his offbeat sense of humor and dedication to the bit. While he is unlikely to win a seat, his\u2064 acerbic critique of politicians and policies has made waves.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p>The U.K. election will be one\u200d of the most watched \u200bin history as power \u200bis set to shift from the incumbent Conservative Party to the Labour Party, with \u2064Reform making\u2062 a strong showing\u2062 and \u2062a variety of smaller parties and independent candidates vying for recognition.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2062 campaign has\u2063 been characterized by its sharp \u200cswings between parties and vital issues such as immigration, economic policies, and Brexit. \u200bIt will be up to the voters to decide who will steer the country over the next \u2064several years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"_uXzJS__Kg\" src=\"\/\/embed-assets.5min.com\/gd\/bidragjqn\/website\/c5b2db93-44d5-4e0d-adca-c9f5f3e15d8e\/xd.js?d=www.washingtonexaminer.com\" gid=\"bidragjqn\"><\/script><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p><script 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href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" title=\"Washington Examiner\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-img-wrap\"><\/span><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-title\">Washington Examiner<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\">\n<div class=\"tdb-search-form-inner\"><input class=\"tdb-head-search-form-input\" placeholder=\" \" type=\"text\" value name=\"s\" autocomplete=\"off\"><button class=\"wpb_button wpb_btn-inverse btn tdb-head-search-form-btn\" title=\"Search\" type=\"submit\"><span>Search<\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><a class=\"tdb-logo-a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" title=\"Washington Examiner\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-img-wrap\"><\/span><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-title\">Washington Examiner<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Count Binface, a stunt-obsessed Davey, and a returning Farage: Big players in the UK election<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> <a class=\"tdb-author-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/brady-knox\/\">Brady Knox<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2024-07-03T23:21:40-04:00\">July 3, 2024 11:21 pm<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1679035\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Voters in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/united-kingdom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"United Kingdom\">United Kingdom<\/a> will head to the polls on July 4 to choose their next government, with polls indicating that the results will be historic.<\/p>\n<p>After 14 years of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tories\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Conservative\">Conservative<\/a> rule, Prime Minister <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/rishi-sunak\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Rishi Sunak\">Rishi Sunak<\/a> is set to lead the party into one of the greatest defeats in electoral history, going from a majority to its lowest share of votes since being established in 1834. The party has managed to whip up the anger of the left-wing and center parties through its economic policies while enraging further right-wing voters by failing to follow through with promises to reduce immigration, instead sending it to record highs.<\/p>\n<p>The next prime minister will be decided by which party, or coalition of parties, wins the majority of seats.<\/p>\n<p>Here are all the key players to know in the U.K. election:<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rishi Sunak \u2014 Conservatives<\/h3>\n<p>Sunak took over as prime minister in October 2022 after the record-short tenure of former Prime Minister Liz Truss. He was credited with providing a degree of much-needed stability to the government and bringing some modest economic gains. However, it was a string of unfulfilled promises that cratered his perception.<\/p>\n<p>Upon his accession to the premiership, Sunak delivered five promises: to halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut National Health Service waiting lists, and \u201cstop the boats,\u201d referring to the trafficking of illegal immigrants coming to Britain across the English Channel.<\/p>\n<p>Nearly two years later, Sunak only accomplished a single goal, more than halving inflation, while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/65647308\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>failing<\/a> on the rest. One of the failures was spurring economic growth, one of the U.K.\u2019s worst economic malaise.<\/p>\n<p>One of the most important issues that has helped bleed support was his handling of illegal immigration. He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/article\/the-uks-prime-minister-promised-to-stop-the-boats-it-may-have-cost-him-his-job\/6fsrdsp90\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>oversaw<\/a> a small decrease in illegal boat arrivals in 2023, after a record high in 2022, but the first half of 2024 saw a resurgence of arrivals. <\/p>\n<p>He staked much of his immigration plan on a scheme to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/psaki-pressed-on-pending-immigration-strategy-which-will-not-deport-illegal-migrants-for-some-crimes\/\" title=\"Psaki pressed on pending immigration strategy which will not deport illegal migrants for some crimes\">deport illegal migrants<\/a> to Rwanda. As of the election, not a single migrant had been deported to Rwanda. The result was disappointment from the Right and Left.<\/p>\n<p>His move to call early elections in May <a href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/leaders\/2024\/05\/22\/rishi-sunaks-election-call-makes-no-sense-but-is-good-news\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>baffled<\/a> observers, as the polls were already clear and he still had until the end of the year to wait \u2013 time he could have spent improving his record.<\/p>\n<p>Sunak\u2019s perception has been further crippled by a series of gaffes, particularly one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/uk-rishi-sunak-apologizes-dday-80-years-commemorations-backlash-tv-interview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"surrounding\">surrounding<\/a> the 80th commemoration ceremony of the D-Day landings. After some initial commemorations, the prime minister left Normandy to fly back to the U.K. to record an interview. He left before the main event featuring surviving World War II veterans, leaving one of the key participants of the landings out of the central photos with President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron. Nearly all segments of British society roundly decried the episode, made worse after a half-hearted apology.<\/p>\n<p>His series of missteps, along with longstanding dissatisfaction with Conservative rule, has set the table for what appears could be the greatest electoral defeat in U.K. history.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keir Starmer \u2013 Labour<\/h3>\n<p>Following a blistering defeat in the 2019 elections, the Labour Party underwent a period of soul-searching. Sir Keir Starmer seized control from the former party head Jeremy Corbyn, whose socialism had turned off much of the electorate, in 2020. He spent the next four years <a href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/britain\/2024\/06\/25\/what-the-remaking-of-labour-reveals-about-sir-keir-starmer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>rebranding<\/a> Labour into a moderate, center-left party. He cracked down on long-standing allegations of antisemitism and departed from the far-left leanings of the party.<\/p>\n<p>His efforts appear to have largely been successful, given the expected sweep from Labour. Starmer has touted his remolding of the party as one of his prime accomplishments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have changed this Labour Party, dragged it back to service, and I will do exactly the same for Westminster,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>He has pushed Labour to take positions at odds with its traditional standing, such as becoming tougher on crime, but which translate to a greater appeal to swing voters. Starmer\u2019s stress on law and order can be found in his former career as a lawyer and prosecutor.<\/p>\n<p>But Starmer himself represents something of an enigma \u2013 he is best characterized by his pragmatism, flexibility, and desire to get Labour back into power. One descriptor <a href=\"https:\/\/news.sky.com\/story\/adam-boulton-sir-keir-starmer-is-the-anti-charisma-candidate-but-his-lack-of-profile-hasnt-harmed-labours-chances-13039086\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"never\">never<\/a> found alongside his name is \u201ccharismatic.\u201d The <em>New York Times<\/em> described his rhetorical style as \u201cbland,\u201d and the <em>Telegraph<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/news\/2024\/06\/13\/dullest-manifesto-on-record-sealed-deal-for-labour\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>described<\/a> his manifesto as the \u201cdullest on record.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Starmer\u2019s cautious approach to campaigning has drawn him heavy criticism, especially from his left flank. But the strategy appears to have pulled off \u2013 a <em>WeThink<\/em>\/<em>Economist <\/em>\u201cmega-poll\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/graphic-detail\/2024\/06\/26\/our-new-mega-poll-gives-labour-an-expected-majority-of-280-seats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>found<\/a> that Labour is expected to win 465 of the 632 total parliamentary seats, a stunning turnaround from their embarrassing 2019 loss. He is expected to become the U.K.\u2019s next prime minister.<\/p>\n<p>For all its criticism, the Labour leader\u2019s reserved, cautious approach will likely serve as a vindication of Napoleon Bonaparte\u2019s famous maxim \u2013 \u201cNever interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ed Davey \u2013 Liberal Democrats<\/h3>\n<p>The Liberal Democrats, liberal economically and socially, are in an odd position in U.K. politics, seen by many as the eternal loser. The last Lib Dem (in the form of the then-Liberal Party) prime minister departed office before the Soviet Union was established. They have played roles in some governments since, but have remained a clear minority party.<\/p>\n<p>Sir Ed Davey, 58, took over as head of the party in 2020 and has gambled on a series of publicity stunts, perhaps hoping to inject fun and dynamism into the bland campaigns of Labour and the Tories.<\/p>\n<p>In one recent stunt, he went bungee jumping, yelling \u201cDo something you\u2019ve never done before: vote Liberal Democrat!\u201d as he bounced on the cord.<\/p>\n<p>In another, he raced a farmer in a yellow tractor \u2013 the color of the Lib Dems. He\u2019s purposefully fallen off a paddle board, gone down water slides, played Jenga, baked bread, rode bicycles, done group exercises in a pool, and tried \u201cWipeout\u201d style obstacle courses.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Nobody:<br \/>Ed Davey: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iqAqFoDtob\">pic.twitter.com\/iqAqFoDtob<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Greg Birks (@GregBirks) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GregBirks\/status\/1808070865713606962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 2, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>In an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/article\/2024\/jul\/03\/general-election-2024-liberal-democrats-tactical-voting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>op-ed<\/a> for the <em>Guardian<\/em>, Davey said that his stunts were meant to show he doesn\u2019t take himself too seriously.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe \u2018stunts\u2019 hopefully show that I do not take myself too seriously,\u201d he wrote. \u201cBut what I do treat with the utmost importance are the issues that people have raised with me and the stakes at this election, which could not be higher.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While it can\u2019t be guaged how much of the likely impending success can be owed to the amusing publicity stunts, the Lib Dems are set to see their best electoral results since 2010. The <em>Economist<\/em> even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/britain\/2024\/07\/02\/the-liberal-democrats-could-become-the-main-opposition-in-britain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>estimated<\/a> that there\u2019s a chance they could win more seats than the Tories, a historic accomplishment.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nigel Farage \u2013 Reform U.K.<\/h3>\n<p>Nigel Farage used his charisma and populist sentiments to become one of the most influential politicians in the U.K., playing a key role in pushing the biggest geopolitical development in recent U.K. history \u2013 Brexit. After the successful vote, Farage resigned as head of the U.K. Independence Party, arguing that he never wanted to be a career politician.<\/p>\n<p>He kept a lower profile in U.K. politics since, departing Parliament in 2020 and announcing his official retirement in March 2021. He spent his retirement partly by making <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fbWYObXSj34\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>paid Cameo videos<\/a> exalting Irish Republicans, \u201cBig Chungus,\u201d and other memes upon user request.<\/p>\n<p>Then, in a shock move, Farage announced his surprise return to politics on June 3, 2024, running as head of the Reform Party and the minister of Parliament for the coastal constituency of Clacton.<\/p>\n<p>The move will likely go down as one of the final nails in the coffin of Sunak and the Tories \u2013 offering disgruntled conservatives a further-right alternative to the Conservatives, especially those angry over the party\u2019s failure on immigration.<\/p>\n<p>Farage has been speaking to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/britain\/2024\/06\/06\/the-return-of-the-farage-ratchet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>packed crowds<\/a> denouncing the Tories and forcing the insecure Conservatives further right.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I will fight for Clacton, and I will fight for this country. \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SWtzZZiug1\">pic.twitter.com\/SWtzZZiug1<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Nigel_Farage\/status\/1808598256294736241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>With Farage\u2019s leadership, Reform, which hasn\u2019t won a seat before, is expected by the <em>Economist<\/em> to win 14% of the national vote and three seats.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Count Binface \u2013 Independent<\/h3>\n<p>Sunak faces a daunting, direct challenge in his constituency in the form of the supposed 5,900-year-old space warrior, Count Binface.<\/p>\n<p>The satirical candidate is the doing of comedian Jonathan David Harvey, who ran in earlier elections as Lord Buckethead. He was forced to retire the persona amid a copyright dispute.<\/p>\n<p>Count Binface, dressed in a cartoonish space costume and trash-bin-looking mask, has touted outlandish electoral promises, such as nationalizing the musician Adele, price-capping croissants at \u00a31.10, and to \u201cmake water bosses take a dip in British rivers, to see how they like it,\u201d <em>1843 Magazine<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/1843\/2024\/06\/17\/no-british-election-is-complete-without-a-man-with-a-bin-on-his-head\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>His first election showing was against Boris Johnson in 2019.\u00a0 In a surprise defeat in the 2021 London mayoral election, he earned just 1% of the vote, 24,775 votes, losing to Labour\u2019s Sadiq Khan.<\/p>\n<p>One of Binface\u2019s primary motives is the procedure of all candidates being photographed beside one another, meaning the prime minister of one of history\u2019s greatest empires will be pictured next to a man wearing a trash can.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The British political system requires that candidates only need to pay a \u00a3500 fee and get the signatures of 10 constituents, making prank candidates a common occurrence.<\/p>\n<p>In a self-aware moment, Harvey expressed pride in his native country over his ability to pull off the stunt.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want to prove to the omniverse that it\u2019s still possible for anyone from any planet to stand for election, whatever your platform,\u201d Binface told the <em>1843 Magazine<\/em>. \u201cAnd I just think that says everything about what makes Britain great.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1679035\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1679035\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><a class=\"tdb-logo-a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" title=\"Washington Examiner\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-img-wrap\"><\/span><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-title\">Washington Examiner<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key players in the UK election include Rishi Sunak of the Conservatives, Keir Starmer of Labour, Ed Davey of the Liberal Democrats, Nigel Farage of Reform UK, and Count Binface, an independent candidate known for his satirical campaign promises<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2289007,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AP24185681354012.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[33888,33889,20366,33890,32076],"class_list":["post-2289006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-count-binface","tag-davey","tag-farage","tag-uk-election","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AP24185681354012.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2289006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2289006"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2289006\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2289007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2289006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2289006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2289006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}