As ridiculous as it sounds, independent space warrior Count Binface just might have a shot at having a seat within the UK Parliament.

All eyes in the UK are on Clacton right now as a tense battle between Count Binface and UK Reform Party candidate Nigel Farage. Nigel had previously won the Clacton seat but quit to trigger a by-election after facing scrutiny over an undeclared donation worth ₱414 million (£5M). In protest, the UK's most prominent parties, Labour and Conservative, opted not to participate in the election. This led the door open for just about anyone to face off against Nigel, hence Count Binface.

Count Binface has long been a familiar face in UK politics, having faced off against three Prime Ministers in the past. Behind the bin is Jon Harvey, a British satirist who has worked in several comedy television programs. He first took on the mantle of Lord Buckethead to face off against former Prime Minister Theresa May in the 2017 general election before dropping the character due to copyright issues. Since then, Jon has taken on the persona of Count Binface to run in different elections in the UK. 

It's a fascinating glimpse into how the UK political system operates. For this by-election, the UK broke its record for the most candidates vying for the top spot, with a total of 34 candidates. Through polls, Nigel and Count Binface remain the top choices for the seat. People have clamored that it's a "bin-bin (win-win)" situation for Count Binface due to how it makes Nigel look either way. If Nigel wins, he wins against what many deem a nuisance candidate. If Count Binface wins, Nigel would have to live with the fact that he just lost to a man with a bin on his head. Even if Nigel wins, the investigation into his funds also continues. 

What's amusing about a candidate like Count Binface gaining such a position is that it shows the baffling nature of the UK's political system. For Count Binface, his being allowed to run shows how the centuries-old model of democracy is beautiful, since it shows that even the most high-profile candidates are above no one. In the UK, anyone is allowed to run provided they meet the rules and shell out ₱41,426 (£500). This amount is returned if they manage to receive up to five percent of the votes cast. With this ruling, many prominent joke candidates have popped up in the UK over the years, including the political party known as the Monster Raving Loony Party. 

In the Philippines, while a candidate similar to Count Binface could go viral, they are not likely to ever appear on the voting sheets. Voters from 2016 might recall when Allan Carreon gained momentary fame after claiming to be an intergalactic ambassador for the Philippines. Even if just about anyone can freely file their Certificate of Candidacy (COC) to run for any position, the Commission on Elections is tasked with weeding out anyone classified as nuisance candidates. According to the Omnibus Election Code, a nuisance candidate is classified as someone who either files a COC solely to mock or discredit the election process, a candidacy that causes confusion by having or mimicking the name of registered candidates, or those whose actions or circumstances demonstrate a lack of general intent to run for office.  

With the Clacton polls now officially closed, the vote count of Nigel Farage vs. Count Binface is underway. It's still unknown what would happen if Count Binface manages to win over Nigel. Would the UK Parliament permit him to join as his intergalactic identity? Only time will tell.