UMVA has learned that a surreal and unforgettable moment unfolded during the Makerfield by-election, when a Sky News journalist found himself in a rather unusual interview with comedian and candidate Count Binface.
As votes were being counted, Jon Craig, the channel's chief political correspondent, was interrupted by the presenter in the studio, who told him to talk to the man standing behind him - a figure clad in a giant trash can on his head, flashing peace signs. Despite looking slightly reluctant, Craig turned around and began a two-minute interview with the satirical character who calls himself an 'intergalactic election crusader'.
The unexpected chat quickly turned into a memorable moment of television, with Binface declaring his candidacy was a result of being "at a loose end" and wanting to ensure elected mayors serve out their terms before being eligible to stand for parliament. Veteran journalist Craig sounded taken aback, saying, "Ah, you made a sensible political, [correcting himself] you made a serious political point there."
Binface's response was quick-witted, as he told Craig to remain impartial and continued to outline his campaign promises - including rephrasing the traffic lights on Liverpool Road, capping Wigan kebab prices at £2, and making cyclists who disobey the Highway Code ride unicycles instead. When Craig interrupted, inquiring if Binface was about to swear, Binface reassured him, "No no no, although we are past the watershed but don't worry."
As the conversation progressed, Binface shared more of his ambitious plans, including rerouting the HS2 project through rail executives' homes and building at least one affordable house. When asked about his expected vote count, Binface humbly replied, "Well, I'd be happy with one." The exchange between Binface and Craig has been hailed as "the greatest 2 minutes and 44 seconds of television" by viewers.
In the end, Binface received 95 votes, making up only 0.21 per cent of the total votes cast. Meanwhile, Andy Burnham secured a huge majority of the vote and is expected to run in a leadership contest against Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Despite the lighthearted nature of the interview, it was clear that Binface's participation in the by-election was all in good fun.
