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Count Binface, Nigel Farage's space-warrior foe

economist.com

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Re: Count Binface, Nigel Farage's space-warrior foe

#21

Post by blooalien »

xtracto wrote: post #16
alex_anglin wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Such is the state of British politics?

Have you seen the clown they elected in the US? Also, ive heard in Ukraine they elected a comedian as president.

> Have you seen the clown they elected in the US?

So much worse than a clown... At least clowns are scary and funny - but yeah... Not the Tangerine Terror. He's just scary in the stupidest of ways (as in; "How is this clown allowed to be in charge of anything at all? He's a danger to himself and everyone else.")

Re: Count Binface, Nigel Farage's space-warrior foe

#23

Post by MattPalmer1086 »

anonymousiam wrote: post #18
dozerly wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is it atypical? It’s a joke candidate running against a populist right wing politician with some real support. It’s exactly the kind of societal commentary this community finds interesting

What's most interesting is that the "joke" candidate was put forth by the other parties, because they know they cannot win a fair election against Farage in his district. They're hoping for another "Boaty McBoatface" outcome here, but their strategy will fail. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boaty_McBoatface

Farage resigned to try to avoid the parliamentary standards committee over his undeclared millions in income. He framed it as letting the voters decide. That's not how it works - its a pure PR move. If he wins again he still gets investigated.

The other parties declined to stand candidates as they did not want to play Farage's silly game - they want to investigate him.

Re: Count Binface, Nigel Farage's space-warrior foe

#24

Post by MattPalmer1086 »

jemmyw wrote: post #17
ggm wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because the mainstream parties have refused to stand candidates in opposition to Farage, stating "it's a stunt" there is some feeling Binface will not only get his deposit back, if the protest vote is strong enough... Farage is very popular in Clacton. It's an older, reactionary community but british elections are First-Past-The-Post and normally have a low turn out so if enough old people died after the last electio…

Didn't they hold a referendum on an alternative voting system and it failed? I'd moved away by that time, but I seem to remember they basically chose a bad and confusing system to make sure it didn't pass. MMP seems to work very well where I currently reside and it wouldn't be too confusing to add it to the British system, basically adding a party vote alongside the local MP vote and then taking MPs from the party li…

[dead]

Re: Count Binface, Nigel Farage's space-warrior foe

#25

Post by cassianoleal »

ggm wrote: post #15
Waterluvian wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dunno if Hacker News encompasses hacker culture, but I’d say novelty candidates are absolutely hacker culture.

Because the mainstream parties have refused to stand candidates in opposition to Farage, stating "it's a stunt" there is some feeling Binface will not only get his deposit back, if the protest vote is strong enough... Farage is very popular in Clacton. It's an older, reactionary community but british elections are First-Past-The-Post and normally have a low turn out so if enough old people died after the last electio…

> there are rumours MRLP and Mr Fox are being funded by right wing parties opposed to Farage

Opposed? This sounds like the right strategy for those allied to him. It dilutes Binface's vote pool, giving Farage a better chance of winning.

Re: Count Binface, Nigel Farage's space-warrior foe

#26

Post by mxmilkiib »

mxmilkiib wrote: post #19
anonymousiam wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's most interesting is that the "joke" candidate was put forth by the other parties, because they know they cannot win a fair election against Farage in his district. They're hoping for another "Boaty McBoatface" outcome here, but their strategy will fail. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boaty_McBoatface

what are you on? Farage resigned their seat because they got 5 million they didn't declare and wished to avoid parliamentary procedure, instead saying "the voters should decide", and the other parties knew it was only a PR stunt so declined to take place, because there will be a by-election (yet another £200,000) that will happen anyway once the undeclared gift gets him booted.

I was wrong, the average cost is 348,000 gbp

Re: Count Binface, Nigel Farage's space-warrior foe

#27

Post by anonymousiam »

MattPalmer1086 wrote: post #23
anonymousiam wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's most interesting is that the "joke" candidate was put forth by the other parties, because they know they cannot win a fair election against Farage in his district. They're hoping for another "Boaty McBoatface" outcome here, but their strategy will fail. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boaty_McBoatface

Farage resigned to try to avoid the parliamentary standards committee over his undeclared millions in income. He framed it as letting the voters decide. That's not how it works - its a pure PR move. If he wins again he still gets investigated. The other parties declined to stand candidates as they did not want to play Farage's silly game - they want to investigate him.

Farage has broken no laws. The committee is desperately trying to prevent him from becoming PM, which is inevitable if they don't murder him first.

Re: Count Binface, Nigel Farage's space-warrior foe

#28

Post by anonymousiam »

mxmilkiib wrote: post #19
anonymousiam wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's most interesting is that the "joke" candidate was put forth by the other parties, because they know they cannot win a fair election against Farage in his district. They're hoping for another "Boaty McBoatface" outcome here, but their strategy will fail. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boaty_McBoatface

what are you on? Farage resigned their seat because they got 5 million they didn't declare and wished to avoid parliamentary procedure, instead saying "the voters should decide", and the other parties knew it was only a PR stunt so declined to take place, because there will be a by-election (yet another £200,000) that will happen anyway once the undeclared gift gets him booted.

The 5 million gift from friends was unrelated to his political campaign, and did not need to be declared. The committee is desperate to keep Farage from becoming PM. We saw the same sort of lawfare used against Trump during the 2024 election. Also, with Le Pen in France.

Re: Count Binface, Nigel Farage's space-warrior foe

#29

Post by anonymousiam »

mxmilkiib wrote: post #19
anonymousiam wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's most interesting is that the "joke" candidate was put forth by the other parties, because they know they cannot win a fair election against Farage in his district. They're hoping for another "Boaty McBoatface" outcome here, but their strategy will fail. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boaty_McBoatface

what are you on? Farage resigned their seat because they got 5 million they didn't declare and wished to avoid parliamentary procedure, instead saying "the voters should decide", and the other parties knew it was only a PR stunt so declined to take place, because there will be a by-election (yet another £200,000) that will happen anyway once the undeclared gift gets him booted.

Feel free to complain about the costs to taxpayers of having an unscheduled election, but remember what triggered it. Farage resigned to prevent more lawfare against him. His constituency will re-elect him.

Re: Count Binface, Nigel Farage's space-warrior foe

#30

Post by MattPalmer1086 »

anonymousiam wrote: post #29
mxmilkiib wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what are you on? Farage resigned their seat because they got 5 million they didn't declare and wished to avoid parliamentary procedure, instead saying "the voters should decide", and the other parties knew it was only a PR stunt so declined to take place, because there will be a by-election (yet another £200,000) that will happen anyway once the undeclared gift gets him booted.

Feel free to complain about the costs to taxpayers of having an unscheduled election, but remember what triggered it. Farage resigned to prevent more lawfare against him. His constituency will re-elect him.

And when or if they do, he will be subject to the investigation again. So... what is the point?
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