Alien space warrior vs right-wing populist: the UK election that is beyond a joke

August 10, 2026 — 5:00am

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Clacton-on-Sea: The laughs came easily one month ago when British politician Nigel Farage dared his opponents to take him on at a byelection, only to discover that his main challenger would be a man who wears a garbage can on his head.

The prospect of the Reform UK leader being humiliated by Count Binface, a candidate with an eye for black capes and silver headgear, generated global headlines for the way it brought classic farce to British politics.

But the joke is wearing thin in Clacton, the electorate where voters will cast their ballots this Thursday (London time). On the streets of Clacton-on-Sea, the beachside town at the heart of the constituency, it is hard to find any enthusiasm for the alien candidate who claims to be a warrior from the planet Sigma IX.

“I don’t think anything about people like that,” says Jean Strain, 87, a retired office worker.

“I think politics and our vote is important, and we should be careful and serious. It’s not some joke.”

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Binface has a queue of admirers in London media circles because he has enlivened an otherwise bland byelection during a northern summer lull, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham on holiday and nothing much happening.

The count’s interviews with the BBC, Sky News, The Times, The Guardian and other media outlets have turned him into a momentary darling for progressive voters who want someone to stand up to Farage.

On Station Road near the Clacton Pier, however, some local voters are barely aware that Binface – his family name on the ballot paper – is running.

“I haven’t seen that,” says Jack Wright, 85, a former civil........

© The Sydney Morning Herald