Video of the day. Partial legislative in the United Kingdom: who is the “Count Trash-head” who challenges Nigel Farage?
Nigel Farage, the leader of the anti-immigration British party Reform UK, is expected to have as his only opponent in a partial legislative election a…candidate with the head of a trash can. In the midst of a financial scandal, the politician is targeted by accusations of corruption. In this stormy context, all the main parties decided to boycott the election organized in its stronghold of Clacton-on-Sea on August 13.
All, except for a mysterious character dressed in a cape, a helmet shaped like a trash can and metal armor: “Count Binface”, literally “Count Trash-Head”. Under this name hides Jonathan David Harvey, recognized actor and screenwriter of several successful BBC comedies, including The Thick of It And Have I Got News For You. His character, half space knight, half figure inspired by Star Warspresents himself on X as “Space Politician. Potential candidate for the Clacton-on-Sea legislative by-election. Sane.”
Ban on VAR and nationalization of singer Adèle
His program, decidedly absurd, includes a ban on eating noisy snacks at the cinema, the nationalization of the singer Adèle, the abolition of VAR in football, or even the obligation for the directors of Thames Water (a company responsible for water management) to “take a little dip in the Thames to see if they like it”, in reference to the discharge of wastewater into the London river. Questioned by the BBC, he himself admitted that he would probably not win the election, specifying that his role was above all to “celebrate and defend the marvels of British democracy”.
This is not the character’s first electoral foray. He had already presented himself against Theresa May in 2017, Boris Johnson in 2019, as well as for mayor of London in 2021 and 2024, and against Rishi Sunak in July 2024. More recently, last June, he presented himself in the Makerfield by-election, won by the Labor Party Andy Burnham, where he promised: “I will reduce your taxes and increase those of others”, then collecting 95 votes, or 0.21% of the votes.
