Count Binface facts for kids

Count Binface is a funny political character created by British comedian Jonathan Harvey in 2018. He is known for running in elections in the United Kingdom. He often stands against well-known politicians.

For example, he ran in the 2019 United Kingdom general election in Uxbridge and South Ruislip. There, he was up against the prime minister at the time, Boris Johnson. He also ran in the 2021 London mayoral election to become the mayor of London.

Before becoming Count Binface, Jonathan Harvey used to run as a character called Lord Buckethead. However, he had to change the name. This was because of a copyright issue with an American filmmaker named Todd Durham. Durham created the Lord Buckethead character for his 1984 science fiction movie, Hyperspace.

Another person later ran as Lord Buckethead in the same election. This person represented the Official Monster Raving Loony Party. Count Binface joked that he looked forward to debating this other "receptacle-to-receptacle" candidate.

Who is Count Binface?

Count Binface is an independent space warrior. He wears a black and grey outfit with a long silver cape. His helmet looks a bit like a dustbin. It has a glowing strip where his eyes would be. In 2019, Count Binface claimed to be 5,965 years old!

Count Binface's Funny Election Ideas

Count Binface is famous for his funny and unusual ideas, called "satirical policies." These policies are jokes that make fun of real politics.

2019 General Election Ideas

For the 2019 general election, Count Binface announced several amusing policies, including:

• Bringing back Ceefax, an old TV information service.
• Adding 20,001 police officers to the streets. This was a playful jab at a real promise by another political party.
• Making model railways owned by the government.
• Holding a public vote on whether to have a second public vote about the UK's membership in the European Union.
• Allowing any Czech people on the Irish Border to stay there.
• Making the famous English singer Adele owned by the government.
• Getting rid of the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament.
• Giving free internet access to everyone.
• Stopping the sale of weapons to unfair governments.
• Making TV personality Piers Morgan produce zero pollution by 2030.
• Changing the name of London Bridge to "Phoebe Waller-Bridge" (after a famous writer/actress).
• Setting the minimum voting age at 16 and the maximum at 80.
• Sending £1 trillion (a very large amount) every week to the NHS.
• "Proroguing" (suspending) a politician named Jacob Rees-Mogg.
• Sending Katie Hopkins (a controversial media personality) to the Phantom Zone (a fictional prison from Superman comics).
• Moving a hand dryer in a pub toilet in Uxbridge to a "more sensible position."

London Mayor Election Ideas

Count Binface also ran for the London Mayoral Election. This election was supposed to happen in 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He shared 21 policies that he said were "responsible" and "not crazy." Some of his ideas included:

• Finishing Crossrail, a major train line project in London.
• Giving free parking to electric vehicles in specific places, like "Vine Street" and "the Strand" (places from the British Monopoly board).
• Having London join the European Union on its own.
• Renaming London Bridge to "Phoebe Waller-Bridge" and Hammersmith Bridge to "Wayne Bridge" (after a famous footballer).
• Making sure that the pay of all government ministers, including the mayor, is linked to what nurses earn for the next 100 years.
• Banning loud snacks in theatres.
• Stopping people from using the speakerphone on their mobile phones in public. Anyone caught doing this would have to watch the film version of Cats every day for a year!

Count Binface raised £10,000 to be able to run for Mayor of London. He donated any extra money to Shelter, a charity that helps people experiencing homelessness. In the mayoral election, he finished in 9th place, receiving 24,775 votes.