The serial election campaigners have returned to politics as candidates for Uxbridge and South Ruislip after Boris Johnson’s resignation in June triggered a by-election.
Alan Hope, 81, known as Howling Laud Hope and Leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party (OMRLP) since 1999, is campaigning in Uxbridge and South Ruislip against tough competition in his 32nd election campaign since 1983.
Hope is contesting the seat against 16 candidates including Laurence Fox, Piers Corbyn and Count Binface – a self-proclaimed extra-terrestrial who stood for the constituency in 2019 and received 24,775 votes in the 2021 London Mayor election.
Hope, the current longest serving political party leader, said: “I’m not under any illusion that I will win the seat at all but if I was to get enough votes say 1,500 or 2,000 just to save my deposit for the first time ever, wouldn’t that shake them up a bit!
“We are the party that’s on everybody’s side no matter what political persuasion they may be.”
Flagship policies of the OMRLP include publicly auctioning honours to the highest bidder, building 300,000 homes including bird, tree and dog houses, giving megaphones to the silent majority, and holding a second Brexit referendum.
Count Binface, founder and leader of the Count Binface Party, stood against Boris Johnson in the 2019 General Election and is campaigning for justice, lasers, and affordable croissants.
Count Binface, who claims to be an intergalactic space warrior over 5,000 years old, said: “On a global scale, democracy is a very very rare thing and I enjoy celebrating it and having fun with it at every opportunity.
“I’ve got experience, I’ve got whim, I’ve got vigour, I’m not Joe Biden, what more do you want?”
With the ULEZ zone set to expand to include Uxbridge and South Ruislip, candidates standing in the by-election have been giving their views and policies on the Mayor of London’s controversial action to reduce emissions.
Hope said: “Man has only here for a weekend, what do we know about climate change?
“Climate change is a lot of baloney I believe.”
Count Binface said: “I do believe in the ULEZ, my view is I like the idea of lower emissions but I believe that oil companies should be made to pay them.
“If you’ve got a planet as lovely as Earth, I’d want to keep.”
Feature image copyright: Harry Mear
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