MPs ready to lobby Speaker so Count Binface can wear his 'space warrior' costume in Commons chamber if he pulls off shock and beats Nigel Farage in Clacton by-election

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 14:29, 9 July 2026 | Updated: 14:34, 9 July 2026 MPs are ready to lobby the Speaker of the House of Commons to allow Count Binface to wear his 'intergalactic space warrior' costume in Parliament. Count Binface is set to be the biggest rival to Reform UK's Nigel Farage in the Clacton by-election after Britain's main political parties refused to enter the 'stunt' contest. It has prompted speculation about whether the self-declared 'space politician' would fall foul of parliamentary rules if he pulls off a huge shock and wins the Essex seat. He has been warned that he will barred from sitting in the Commons chamber in his bin-inspired space outfit because MPs are expected to wear 'business attire'. The guidance for MPs states: 'The way in which you dress should demonstrate respect for your constituents, for the House and for the institution of Parliament'. They are told that 'uniforms, large slogan-bearing items and other forms of demonstrative dress' are not allowed. MPs are also warned that 'anyone showing flagrant disrespect in their manner of dress' may be asked to leave the Commons chamber. But, according to BBC Newsnight, some MPs are thinking of writing to Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, to ask for a change to the rules to allow Count Binface to appear in his signature costume. MPs are ready to lobby the Speaker of the House of Commons to allow Count Binface to wear his 'intergalactic space warrior' costume in Parliament Count Binface is set to be the biggest rival to Reform UK's Nigel Farage in the Clacton by-election after Britain's main political parties refused to enter the 'stunt' contest This is because, if Count Binface wins the Clacton by-election against Mr Farage, he will have been expressly elected by local voters under his Count Binface moniker. Mr Farage triggered a by-election in the Clacton constituency he won at the 2024 general election amid a parliamentary probe into a £5million gift he received from Thailand-based crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne. The Reform leader is also facing questions over support he is reported to have been provided by convicted criminal George Cottrell.  He resigned from the Commons and vowed to fight what he has billed as a 'people versus the establishment' contest following the scrutiny over his finances. Mr Farage has said that he did not have to declare the seven-figure sum from Mr Harborne when he became an MP because it was personal and did not relate to political activity. But he himself has admitted he had talked with officials about standing in Clacton at the 2024 election months before the gift was made. The Reform leader confessed to being wrong-footed by the other main Westminster parties after they boycotted the Clacton by-election, which has left comedy candidate Count Binface as his most notable opponent. Count Binface, otherwise known as the 'Leader of the Recyclons', is the alter-ego of comedy writer Jonathan Harvey and is a regular novelty contestant in parliamentary elections. He most recently stood against Andy Burnham in last month's Makerfield by-election and previously contested the constituencies of former Tory PMs Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak. At the 2017 general election, Mr Harvey stood against then-PM Theresa May in his previous incarnation as 'Lord Buckethead'. Count Binface is claimed to be more than 5,900 years of age and has previously pledged to 'nationalise' Adele as 'a creative powerhouse and a one-woman GDP boost'. He appears to be raking in thousands of pounds to fund his Clacton campaign through small donations via an online fundraising page.  Asked on Wednesday about potentially being barred from wearing his Count Binface costume in the Commons, if he is elected, Mr Harvey told LBC: 'Well the Commons rules are very clear about what you can do with donations. 'But that seems to have got all murky, so why can't I see how the line can get tested?'