From Count Binface and Captain Beany, to Elmo and a pub in Richmond – here is how the quirky UK general election candidates have fared in the count.
Count Binface, a self-described intergalactic space warrior, was gunning for Rishi Sunak’s constituency seat in Richmond and Northallerton, pledging to voters in his manifesto to introduce national service for former prime ministers and invite European countries to join the UK.
While Mr Sunak retained his seat with 23,059 votes, the Count, running for the Count Binface Party came sixth in the poll, following Green Party candidate Kevin Foster, with 308 votes from constituents.
Binface wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that it was his “highest ever finish” in an election and his “highest ever parliamentary vote”, saying “#BindependenceDay has come”.
My highest ever finish. 6th
My highest ever parliamentary vote. 308
My highest height advantage. 2ft 6in#BindependenceDay has come. pic.twitter.com/InPXEyBRd3Advertisement— Count Binface (@CountBinface) July 5, 2024
While counts and declarations were under way, Mr Sunak appeared to have a run-in with another electoral candidate who had also set his sights on the North Yorkshire constituency seat – YouTuber Niko Omilana.
While Mr Sunak gave a speech following the declaration of the count in Northallerton, independent candidate Mr Omilana held an “L” printed on a piece of paper behind his head.
Mr Omilana earned 160 votes, coming in eighth place behind Count Binface and fellow independent candidate Brian Richmond.
Another weird and wonderful Westminster-hopeful who set their sights on the seat of a party leader was Elmo, otherwise known as Bobby “Elmo” Smith, who zeroed in on Sir Keir Starmer’s constituency seat in Holborn and St Pancras.
While the independent candidate came in 12th place in the results, earning the least amount of votes at 19, social media users enjoyed seeing his red costume next to Mr Starmer on stage during the Labour leader’s victory speech.
Freelance journalist James O’Malley wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “I love that Starmer is giving this speech next to a guy dressed as Elmo.”
Another X user said they were “laughing out loud at Starmer doing an impassioned speech about democracy while sharing a stage with Elmo”.
While Elmo did not fare too well in the count, another quirky candidate with a particular love of baked beans managed to score 618 votes from constituents in Aberafan Maesteg, Wales.
Captain Beany, who stood as an independent in the UK general election and who started out in politics in 1991, came sixth place in the constituency, beating Heritage Party candidate Rhiannon Morrissey.
Another unlikely candidate throughout the campaign was that of a pub in Richmond, running under the party of The Mitre TW9 – the name of the hostelry.
Candidate and pub landlord Chris French, who previously told the PA news agency that he put himself forward to stand in Richmond Park to “get the free advertising on 77,000 ballot papers”, received 349 votes in the count.
Mr French, who said he would be “absolutely chuffed” if he got at least 5 per cent of the vote because this would mean the £500 deposit candidates are required to pay would be returned to him, fell sort of the threshold with 0.7 per cent.
However, Mr French and his pub came sixth, beating Social Democratic Party candidate Richard Harrison by more than 100 votes.
Last, but by no means least, senior druid King Arthur Pendragon graced voters in Salisbury, Wiltshire, for the fifth time on during this year’s campaign.
Independent candidate Mr Pendragon, who previously told PA that he wanted to bring “spirituality” and the virtues of “truth, honour and justice” to politics, also came sixth in the constituency with 458 votes.
Jacob Rees-Mogg losing his seat is funny enough, but losing it standing next to Barmy Brunch from The Official Monster Raving Loony Party wearing a baked beans balaclava is hilarious 😂 #GeneralElections pic.twitter.com/F23hOFmr8N
— JJ (@McGannJack) July 5, 2024
And in case you were wondering who was standing next to Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg wearing a balaclava resembling two fried eggs for eyes, a tomato for a nose, a sausage for a mouth and baked beans all over, that would be Barmy Brunch from the Official Monster Raving Loony Party.
While Mr Rees-Mogg came second in North East Somerset and Hanham, Barmy Brunch came last with 211 votes.
