Nigel Farage faces novelty candidates in Clacton by-election
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has announced he will resign his seat of Clacton to run again via a by-election, a move critics call a distraction from his finances. His rivals include actor Laurence Fox of the Reclaim Party and Count Binface, a comedian Jonathan Harvey's creation. The Official Monster Raving Loony Party also plans to field a candidate, possibly leader Howling Laud Hope. The tradition of novelty candidates in UK politics dates back to Bill Boaks, a WWII naval officer who campaigned on road safety, and Screaming Lord Sutch, who founded the OMRLP in 1982. The author argues such candidates trivialize politics and aid populists like Farage. However, the precedent of H'Angus The Monkey, elected mayor of Hartlepool in 2002, suggests a novelty candidate could prove competent.
Key facts
- Nigel Farage announced he will resign his seat of Clacton to run again via a by-election.
- Farage's rivals include Laurence Fox and Count Binface.
- Count Binface is the creation of comedian Jonathan Harvey.
- The Official Monster Raving Loony Party intends to field a candidate in Clacton, possibly Howling Laud Hope.
- Bill Boaks was a WWII naval officer who campaigned on road safety and stood in 28 elections.
- Screaming Lord Sutch founded the Official Monster Raving Loony Party in 1982.
- Howling Laud Hope and Count Binface contested the Makerfield by-election, polling 45 and 95 votes respectively.
- In 2002, H'Angus The Monkey was elected mayor of Hartlepool; the person inside the suit, Stuart Drummond, served three terms.
Entities
Artists
- Nigel Farage
- Laurence Fox
- Count Binface
- Jonathan Harvey
- Howling Laud Hope
- Bill Boaks
- Screaming Lord Sutch
- Stuart Drummond
- Rob Pownall
- Andy Burnham
Institutions
- Reform UK
- Reclaim Party
- Official Monster Raving Loony Party
- Monocle
- BBC
Locations
- Clacton
- United Kingdom
- Makerfield
- Hartlepool
- Dunkirk
- Scotland
Sources
- Monocle —