this post was submitted on 09 Jun 2024
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UK Politics

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It is a well-worn tradition of UK elections that joke candidates stand against party leaders.

In an arena where so much time is spent on optics, the visual of a struggling prime minister pondering their future between Lord Buckethead and Elmo is enough to drive any political professional up the wall - but also reminds the viewer that politicians are people too.

There are several familiar faces every time the country goes to the polls - and 2024 is no different.

Rishi Sunak, win or lose, will be sharing a stage with Count Binface when the results in Richmond and Northallerton are read out - likely in the early hours of 5 July.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will be alongside Elmo in Holborn and St Pancras.

Both of these satirical candidates - Elmo and Binface - stood against Boris Johnson in 2019 and Theresa May in 2017.

But the tradition of joke candidates stretches back even further.

...

As well as the individual parody candidates, there are some parody parties.

The largest example is the Monster Raving Loony Party - famous for its big hats, garish outfits and unique candidate names.

It is putting up Sir Archibald Stanton against Mr Sunak in Richmond and Northallerton, and Nick the incredible Flying Brick against Sir Keir in Holborn and St Pancras.

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[–] Emperor 15 points 5 months ago (4 children)

While the MRLP is the only political party that I've been a fully paid up member of, I do find their names underwhelming these days. Where are the Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Olé-Biscuitbarrels of today?

[–] Nighed@sffa.community 9 points 5 months ago

Probably too long for the online forms everything use nowadays. Before you just had to write ~real small~ on the paper form.

[–] gramie@lemmy.ca 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Olé-Biscuitbarrels

That is a thing of beauty!

[–] Emperor 1 points 5 months ago

I Remember it at the time, definitely added a bit if colour to proceedings.

[–] wewbull 2 points 5 months ago

Where are the Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Olé-Biscuitbarrels of today?

Murdered by the returning officer?

[–] Nighed@sffa.community 12 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Don't the MRLP have quite a good track record of their policies actually being implemented 30 years or so after they first joked about them?

I will look some up later....

[–] Emperor 16 points 5 months ago (2 children)

7 Monster Raving Loony Party policies which are now part of UK law:

  1. 24-hour licensing laws
  2. Lowering the voting age to 18
  3. Abolition of dog licences
  4. The legalisation of commercial radio
  5. The pedestrianisation of Carnaby Street
  6. Passports for pets
  7. Abolition of the 11 plus exam
[–] frog@beehaw.org 2 points 5 months ago

Just goes to show that sometimes the crazy ideas are really just ideas ahead of their time.

[–] frog@beehaw.org 9 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Here's hoping for the abolition of gravity in a few decades, then.

[–] HumanPenguin 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Get a few right wing nutters to claim gravity is left wing invention. I fairly sure Sunak will have abolishing it in his manifesto.

[–] frog@beehaw.org 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Which is obviously ridiculous because there is nothing more authoritarian than gravity.

[–] smeg 3 points 5 months ago

Become an anarchist - buy a magnet

[–] Jakdracula@lemmy.world 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] PunnyName@lemmy.world 7 points 5 months ago (2 children)

I thought this was just tongue-in-cheek name calling. But holy shit lol

[–] AcidOctopus@lemmy.ml 17 points 5 months ago (4 children)

This has been a thing for years. Binface got like, 10K votes when he ran for mayor of London once.

I think people have broadly become tired with the joke now, though. The state of politics has become too depressing to see the humour anymore.

[–] HowManyNimons@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

Honestly I'm all for anything that robs a little bit more dignity from these toffs. I'm looking forward to Rishi (hopefully) delivering a historic concession speech with a man standing behind him in cardboard armour with a bin over his head. Maybe we can organise some rainwater to be present also, just to rub it in.

[–] JacksonLamb@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

It might be that the chance of actually electing one no longer feels like nil.

[–] HumanPenguin 2 points 5 months ago

Come on even if the tories won. As depressing as that may need.

Sunak losing his seat to binnacle is a laugh no one could resist. As the winning party has to consider the fact their leader is not an MP.

[–] wewbull 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Tell me it's your first Westminster election without telling me.

[–] PunnyName@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] wewbull 2 points 5 months ago

Well, welcome.