Count Binface, Elmo and AI Steve: the UK election's unusual candidates | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Tuesday
July 22, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2025
Count Binface, Elmo and AI Steve: the UK election's unusual candidates

Politics

Reuters
03 July, 2024, 12:10 pm
Last modified: 03 July, 2024, 12:18 pm

Related News

  • UK discovers Russian 'espionage tool', sanctions GRU officers over cyberattacks
  • UK police arrest 55 at parliament rally for banned Palestine Action group
  • Bangladeshis linked to Hasina appear to have made UK property transactions in past year: Guardian
  • Babies made using three people's DNA are born free of hereditary disease
  • Thousands of Afghans secretly moved to Britain after data leak

Count Binface, Elmo and AI Steve: the UK election's unusual candidates

Among the more than 4,500 candidates standing for election to parliament's 650 seats are those from fringe parties, single issue campaigners, and, in a peculiarly British tradition, those who are simply making fun of the whole thing

Reuters
03 July, 2024, 12:10 pm
Last modified: 03 July, 2024, 12:18 pm
Satirical political character 'Count Binface' poses during an interview with Reuters, ahead of challenging UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for the parliamentary seat of Richmond and Northallerton, in the upcoming general election on July 4, outside of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, July 2, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Toby Melville
Satirical political character 'Count Binface' poses during an interview with Reuters, ahead of challenging UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for the parliamentary seat of Richmond and Northallerton, in the upcoming general election on July 4, outside of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, July 2, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Toby Melville

When either Rishi Sunak or Keir Starmer take to the stage to hail victory in the British election on Friday, they will be joined at their moment of triumph by either a man with a trash can on his head or someone dressed as "Elmo" from the Muppets.

Among the more than 4,500 candidates standing for election to parliament's 650 seats are those from fringe parties, single issue campaigners, and, in a peculiarly British tradition, those who are simply making fun of the whole thing.

The best known figure in the latter category is Count Binface, "an intergalactic space warrior, leader of the Recyclons from planet sigma IX", who will be challenging Prime Minister Sunak in his constituency in northern England.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Dressed in a silver outfit with matching cape and wearing a silver trash can as a helmet, Binface says he wants to make the July 4 election "Bindependence Day" and that he is the "sane" choice for the electorate.

Satirical political character 'Count Binface' poses during an interview with Reuters, ahead of challenging UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for the parliamentary seat of Richmond and Northallerton, in the upcoming general election on July 4, outside of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, July 2, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Toby Melville
Satirical political character 'Count Binface' poses during an interview with Reuters, ahead of challenging UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for the parliamentary seat of Richmond and Northallerton, in the upcoming general election on July 4, outside of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, July 2, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Toby Melville

"That's right, under the British system I get to stand against Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, it's brilliant," Binface, aka comedian Jonathan Harvey, told Reuters outside parliament where he was mobbed by passers-by asking to have their photograph taken with him.   

Binface is now a familiar face - or helmet - at British elections, having stood against two ex-prime ministers, Theresa May in 2017 - albeit then in his former guise as Lord Buckethead - and Boris Johnson in 2019. He also contested the London mayor elections in 2021 and in May this year when he won 24,000 votes.

Among his eye-catching policies are pledges to price-cap croissants at 1.10 pounds ($1.39), national service for all former prime ministers and that he should represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest.

"It might be true that on Thursday night or Friday morning I haven't beaten Rishi Sunak numerically," said Binface, who has been endorsed by one national newspaper, the irreverent Daily Star tabloid. "But I would argue the moral victory will be mine."

Steve Endacott, an independent candidate in the Brighton Pavilion race, poses with his AI avatar outside Brighton pier in southern Britain, June 17, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Muvija M/File Photo
Steve Endacott, an independent candidate in the Brighton Pavilion race, poses with his AI avatar outside Brighton pier in southern Britain, June 17, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Muvija M/File Photo

LOONIES

The veterans of the UK comedy candidate genre belong to the Official Monster Raving Loony Party which was formed in 1982 and has regularly contested elections ever since.

This year it is fielding 22 candidates, including Howling 'Laud' Hope, the party leader, Baron Von Thunderclap, and Earl Elvis of East Anglia.

Elsewhere "AI Steve" is hoping to become the world's first artifical intelligence lawmaker, while the Psychedelic Movement Party candidate in Southend is standing on pledges to ignore the law and open 24-hour cannnabis cafes. 

Some candidates make no secret of using the election for publicity such as Chris French who is standing having entered his pub "The Mitre" in Richmond, west London, as a political party. 

Elmo speaks at The Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything Festival in New York City, US, May 22, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
Elmo speaks at The Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything Festival in New York City, US, May 22, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

Polls say Labour leader Starmer will be Britain's next leader. "Elmo" from the Muppets will be competing for his seat.

Like Count Binface, Elmo has stood in numerous elections although Bobby Smith, the man in the furry red outfit, is seeking to make an earnest political point and wants to change the law on fathers' rights.

Binface himself had a serious message behind the jokes, saying it was important to protect democracy in a year when "over half the eligible humans on your planet" would go to the polls.

"I'm here to cherish it, to defend it, to celebrate the fact that anyone in the UK can not just vote but you all stand for election whatever your platform or however idiotic you look," he said. "I urge everyone ... do go out to vote, and most importantly, make your vote, count."    
 

Top News / World+Biz / Europe

United Kingdom (UK) / UK Elections

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS
    75 injured in Secretariat as police clash with protesters demanding edu adviser's resignation over delayed HSC reschedule
  • Photo: Collected
    2 advisers, CA press secy leave Milestone School 'through backdoor exit' amid protests
  • Photo: TBS
    Milestone plane crash: 69 still hospitalised, death toll stands at 31

MOST VIEWED

  • Training aircraft crashes at the Diabari campus of Milestone College on 21 July 2025. Photo: Courtesy
    BAF jet crash at Milestone school: At least 20 including children, pilot dead; 171 hospitalised
  • Flight Lieutenant Md Towkir Islam. Photo: Collected
    Pilot tried to avoid disaster by steering crashing jet away from populated area: ISPR
  • An idle luxury: Built at a cost of Tk450 crore, this rest house near Parki Beach in Anwara upazila has stood unused for six months. Perched on the southern bank of the Karnaphuli, the facility now awaits a private lease as the Bridge Division seeks to put it to use. Photo: Md Minhaz Uddin
    Karnaphuli Tunnel’s service area holds tourism promises, but tall order ahead
  • Bangladesh declares one-day state mourning following plane crash on school campus
    Bangladesh declares one-day state mourning following plane crash on school campus
  • 91-day treasury bills rate falls 1.13 percentage points to 10.45% in a week
    91-day treasury bills rate falls 1.13 percentage points to 10.45% in a week
  • Air Force F-7 BJI training aircraft crashes at Milestone College in Uttara
    Air Force F-7 BJI training aircraft crashes at Milestone College in Uttara

Related News

  • UK discovers Russian 'espionage tool', sanctions GRU officers over cyberattacks
  • UK police arrest 55 at parliament rally for banned Palestine Action group
  • Bangladeshis linked to Hasina appear to have made UK property transactions in past year: Guardian
  • Babies made using three people's DNA are born free of hereditary disease
  • Thousands of Afghans secretly moved to Britain after data leak

Features

Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Milestone plane crash: Aggrieved nation left with questions as citizens rally to help

3h | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Uttara, Jatrabari, Savar and more: The killing fields that ran red with July martyrs’ blood

20h | Panorama
Despite all the adversities, girls from the hill districts are consistently pushing the boundaries to earn repute and make the nation proud. Photos: TBS

Ghagra: Where dreams rise from dust for Bangladesh women's football

2d | Panorama
Photos: Collected

Water-resistant footwear: A splash of style in every step

2d | Brands

More Videos from TBS

Tariff deal: Dhaka to submit draft today, US yet to confirm meeting date

Tariff deal: Dhaka to submit draft today, US yet to confirm meeting date

51m | TBS Insight
No scope for hiding information: Air Force chief

No scope for hiding information: Air Force chief

1h | TBS Today
Students complain about not reporting the exact number of bodies

Students complain about not reporting the exact number of bodies

1h | Videos
Education Secretary to be removed in the face of student protests

Education Secretary to be removed in the face of student protests

1h | TBS News Updates
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net