In the context of UK politics, “joke candidates” refer to individuals who stand for election with little or no intention of winning. Instead, their candidacies are often characterized by humorous, satirical, or protest motivations.
These candidates add a touch of levity to the electoral process, sometimes highlighting serious issues through humor or satire. Here are a few notable examples:
1. Lord Buckethead
- Real Name: Various individuals have portrayed Lord Buckethead.
- Appearance: Wears a long black robe and a bucket-like helmet resembling Darth Vader’s helmet.
- Campaign Style: Known for outlandish and humorous policy proposals, such as “nationalizing Adele” and “abolishing the House of Lords with immediate effect and replacing it with the House of Bucket.”
- Notable Elections: Stood against prominent politicians like Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May, and Boris Johnson.
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2. Count Binface
- Real Name: Jon Harvey, a British comedian.
- Appearance: Wears a silver mask resembling a dustbin with a cape and sci-fi armor.
- Campaign Style: Similar to Lord Buckethead, Count Binface’s campaigns are characterized by humorous policy proposals, such as “renaming London Bridge after Phoebe Waller-Bridge” and “abolishing the sun.”
- Notable Elections: Ran against Boris Johnson in the 2019 general election and Sadiq Khan in the 2021 London mayoral election.
3. Mr. Fishfinger
- Real Name: Unknown, uses a pseudonym.
- Appearance: Dressed as a giant fish finger.
- Campaign Style: Entered the race for humorous effect, often focusing on light-hearted, fish-themed policies.
- Notable Elections: Ran against Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron in the 2017 general election.
4. Monster Raving Loony Party
- Founder: Screaming Lord Sutch (David Edward Sutch), a British musician.
- Campaign Style: The party is known for its absurd and satirical policies, such as “paving the M25 motorway and making it the world’s longest car park” and “putting Parliament on wheels so it can travel around the country.”
- Notable Elections: The party has fielded candidates in various elections since its inception in 1983.
Impact and Purpose
While these candidates are a humorous diversion, they can also serve several important functions:
- Highlighting Issues: By using satire, they usually draw attention to serious issues that are generally overlooked.
- Protest: Their candidacies can serve as a form of protest against the political establishment or specific policies.
- Engagement: They add a layer of entertainment to the political process, potentially increasing voter engagement and interest in elections.