So. If you are not following the Nigel Farage vs. Count Binface showdown in British politics then I recommend you start doing so.
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The leader of the Conservative Party is backing Binface. You can’t make it up.
@astronomerritt think Boaty McBoatface, the people can do this!
Even if an actual bin is standing, it wouldn't be any worse that Farage
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@astronomerritt Farage offered to cover the costs of the election himself. They should say "OK, pony up!".
@BackFromTheDud @astronomerritt only if they then prosecute him for attempted bribery! Because this is all silly already.
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So. If you are not following the Nigel Farage vs. Count Binface showdown in British politics then I recommend you start doing so.
The short version: Nigel Farage, MP and leader of the far-right Reform Party, resigns from his seat to halt investigation into his dodgy finances. Then announces he will stand in the ensuing by-election, essentially because if he wins his (safe) seat again it proves the people don’t care about his finances.
As this is obviously a bullshit stunt, every single other major party refuses to put up a candidate for the by-election.
This means Farage is now running against one other candidate only: Count Binface, a man with a bin on his head.
Clacton-on-Sea now have the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever.
@astronomerritt #Farage is still an MP until the Commons decide he is not. There’s an old law which has been used previously to refuse an MP resignation. Last time it was used was against an MP being investigated for bribery and financial corruption.
Also the bookies have shortened the odds for Count Binface. And did you know there’s a website where you can purchase his merchandise?
Http://Binfaceshop.co.uk -
The thing is, Farage is fucked either way. Sure, he will probably win the by-election, but he is standing against Count Binface, a satirical candidate who calls himself an “independent space warrior”. That’s hardly the resounding political victory he wanted. And if Binface gets any significant proportion of the votes, which he likely will, then that’s voters who would rather have a man with a bin on his head than Farage.
To be fair to Count Binface, he’s smart as hell and knows exactly what he is doing, and I (with Kemi fucking Badenoch, apparently) wish him all the luck in the world.
@astronomerritt Farage is actually going to have to turn up and campaign! Because there's no one to split the non-Farage vote. Even a joke candidate is dangerous when they're literally the only non-Farage option. He needs to make sure he gets his vote out. It's hilarious.
Binface got interviewed by GB News in Makerfield and worked their Ofcom rules violation into the interview 3 times. He's going to be very good value
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So. If you are not following the Nigel Farage vs. Count Binface showdown in British politics then I recommend you start doing so.
The short version: Nigel Farage, MP and leader of the far-right Reform Party, resigns from his seat to halt investigation into his dodgy finances. Then announces he will stand in the ensuing by-election, essentially because if he wins his (safe) seat again it proves the people don’t care about his finances.
As this is obviously a bullshit stunt, every single other major party refuses to put up a candidate for the by-election.
This means Farage is now running against one other candidate only: Count Binface, a man with a bin on his head.
Clacton-on-Sea now have the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever.
@astronomerritt 'Clacton-On-Sea' sounds suspiciously 'Dad's Army'
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@debbie He’s intelligent and eloquent. I would legitimately trust him over Farage, a thousand times. Also his cape is cool!
@astronomerritt @debbie He's a satirical character, but he's not a joke
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@astronomerritt
I'd love a Binface win, driven by a record high turnout and protest vote brought around by the attention it'll get -- live by the media circus, die by the media circus.Realistically, it'll be a Farage win, and probably not even close. And he'll rah-rah-bark about how The People support him, while quietly ignoring a record high number of votes going to Binface, record high spoilt ballots, and a record low turnout, I'd guess him getting as low as 15% of the actual eligible vote?
@Rhodium103 A record high win for Farage means he MUST be investigated by the ethics committee, so as much as that may be a loss outwardly, it is a loss for farage as he will likely end up in serious legal hot water.
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@astronomerritt there was a fabulous interview with Count Binface after the Makerfield by-election where the aging Sky News reporter obviously didn't know much about him, and got absolutely schooled.
Do not take the political satirist lightly, they tend to know their stuff
(Editted to use the honourable gentleman's correct title)
Is he any relation to Lord Buckethead?
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The leader of the Conservative Party is backing Binface. You can’t make it up.
@astronomerritt
I, for one, welcome our new MP Count. -
Is he any relation to Lord Buckethead?
@Enema_Cowboy @astronomerritt the same, but forced to change the name...
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@debbie @linuxandyarn @astronomerritt
Just don't try his Mastodon account, which looks to be abandoned.@dec23k @debbie @astronomerritt Thanks. I was being facetious but it's still good knowledge to have.
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@rozeboosje @astronomerritt if Count Binface wins I'm willing to reevaluate my post-Brexit assessment of the British wisdom.
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@woe2you @hedders @astronomerritt
oh my god, I just laughed out loud in my office at that! well played
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So. If you are not following the Nigel Farage vs. Count Binface showdown in British politics then I recommend you start doing so.
The short version: Nigel Farage, MP and leader of the far-right Reform Party, resigns from his seat to halt investigation into his dodgy finances. Then announces he will stand in the ensuing by-election, essentially because if he wins his (safe) seat again it proves the people don’t care about his finances.
As this is obviously a bullshit stunt, every single other major party refuses to put up a candidate for the by-election.
This means Farage is now running against one other candidate only: Count Binface, a man with a bin on his head.
Clacton-on-Sea now have the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever.
@astronomerritt I've been following Count Binface for awhile, from Canada. Best candidate they've had.
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@astronomerritt Farage offered to cover the costs of the election himself. They should say "OK, pony up!".
@BackFromTheDud @astronomerritt It’s apparently a worthless offer, because by law individuals can’t pay the costs of a by-election. The taxpayers will foot the bill no matter what Farage says.
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@BackFromTheDud @astronomerritt It’s apparently a worthless offer, because by law individuals can’t pay the costs of a by-election. The taxpayers will foot the bill no matter what Farage says.
@MisuseCase And he must know that, so his offer was purely performative. That's in keeping with his career: Make an offer that he knows can't be accepted and say "Look how open and generous I am! Vote for me!" . be@astronomerritt@hachyderm.io
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The leader of the Conservative Party is backing Binface. You can’t make it up.
@astronomerritt@hachyderm.io so Farage is non binary?
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@astronomerritt there was a fabulous interview with Count Binface after the Makerfield by-election where the aging Sky News reporter obviously didn't know much about him, and got absolutely schooled.
Do not take the political satirist lightly, they tend to know their stuff
(Editted to use the honourable gentleman's correct title)
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The leader of the Conservative Party is backing Binface. You can’t make it up.
@astronomerritt Can't stand it, I know you planned it...
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@astronomerritt@hachyderm.io so Farage is non binary?
@daswarkeinhuhn @astronomerritt non-bin-ery
