Count Binface has given his verdict on Donald Trump and explains why he sees himself as a “kindred spirit” of England’s Harry Kane.
The comedic Clacton by-election candidate, who will take on Nigel Farage in the contest to become the local MP on 13 August, said he doubted he and the US president, whom he refers to as “the Mango Mussolini”, would get along.
But he praised Kane ahead of England’s World Cup quarter-final clash against Norway on Saturday, who, like him, is a “winner”, he said.
“I see a bit of myself in him. He’s scored roughly the same number of goals for England as I get [votes] in the average election, so we’re kindred spirits,” comedian Jon Harvey, who is best known as Count Binface – wearing a bin on his head – said in a tongue-in-cheek interview with The Times.
Mr Farage has forced a by-election in Clacton where he will go head-to-head with Count Binface after resigning as an MP following intense scrutiny over undeclared donations made to him and Reform UK.
Polling from Ipsos this week found that one in three British adults (33 per cent) would rather see Count Binface winning the by-election, while only 21 per cent told YouGov that they would like to see Mr Farage re-elected.
“Nigel Farage has decided to call a referendum on himself,” he told the newspaper. “I was slightly confused because his speech seemed like he was very upset about his treatment, and then he decided that the best remedy was to put himself through an election campaign. That seems curious. I’ve got my metaphorical popcorn ready. Not actual popcorn, because I haven’t got a mouth as such.”
While the candidate is sticking with some of his long-time “policies”, such as building at least one affordable house, nationalising singer Adele, and introducing conscription for people who use speakerphone on public transport, he said his “manifesto will be pinpointed, laser-guided, to the needs of the Clacton electorate”.
What are Count Binface’s policies and how does he plans to serve Clacton if he beats Nigel Farage?
Taxes
He says simply: “I’ve got a very good taxation policy. I pledge to cut your taxes and raise everybody else’s.”
Donald Trump and US relations
He said he and the US President were unlikely to get along. “I’m not sure me and the Mango Mussolini, the Peach Pinochet, are on the same page. If I went to America, I’d probably come face to face with ICE. The irony is that in my get-up, ice is exactly what I would most like.”
Serving his constituency
Pointing to criticism levelled at Mr Farage over the lack of time he has spent in Clacton since being elected, he said: “Maybe I’ll follow the rule of the last member of parliament and not visit Clacton. What is the done thing if you’re the MP for Clacton? It seems to be to go to Washington DC and hang out there.”
Immigration
“I don’t agree with the immigration policies of Reform UK. Or indeed any of those parties — Restore, Reclaim, Reformat, Reboot. They all sound like things that you had to do to floppy disks in the Nineties.”
His relationship with Andy Burnham
He said the prime minister-in-waiting was “more human than the PMs I’ve had the chance to chinwag with”.
“There’s mutual respect there. Makerfield was trailed as being the most historic British by-election of all time and was going to decide the identity of the next prime minister, so I was like, count me in. He won, but I won morally. We both had something to celebrate.”
Mr Burnham has previously backed Count Binface, saying he was “carrying the hopes of the nation. Don’t let us down.”
