Nigel Farage's only by-election challenger is self-proclaimed space alien Count Binface

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LISTEN | Full interview with Count Binface: As It Happens 5:32 Intergalactic space alien Count Binface takes on Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage, leader of Britain's populist Reform party, says he stepped down from his parliamentary seat so he could trigger a by-election and take on "the establishment."

But, so far, his only challenger is a man who wears a trash bin on his head and describes himself as a 5,000-year-old intergalactic space alien from the planet Sigma IX.

"Logically, there are only two conclusions. One, I am the establishment, I'm the embodiment of the British establishment, which is curious," the self-styled Count Binface told As It Happens host Nil Köksal. "The only other possible conclusion is that Nigel is talking out of his posterior."

Count Binface is the persona comedian Jon Harvey embodies to run in British elections for the dual purpose of skewering politicians and celebrating democracy.

Harvey used to run as Lord Buckethead, a character from the 1984 Star Wars parody Gremloids, but was forced to pivot when filmmaker Todd Durham took notice of his growing popularity and decided to seize control of his intellectual property.

As either Buckethead or Binface, Harvey has unsuccessfully challenged five U.K. prime ministers at the polls. Most recently, he lost a parliamentary byelection to Andy Burnham, who is now on track to become the U.K.'s newest Labour leader and prime ministe r.

"I was actually looking forward to a bit of putting my space boots up," he said, speaking to CBC in character as Binface.

But when he heard about Farage's by-election gamble, he says he "couldn't resist" throwing his helmet in the ring.

Farage, 62, is under investigation in Parliament for allegedly accepting millions of pounds of gifts from wealthy backers. He has denied any wrongdoing.

On Tuesday, he resigned to trigger a by-election and vowed to run again for his seat, saying he wants voters in his Clacton electoral district to judge his actions.

"I will fight to win, I will fight to continue the political revolution that Reform has started," he told voters. "If I win, you win. Because if I lose, they win, and we will never get the type of fundamental change that we need to fix broken Britain."

Reform U.K. Leader Nigel Farage leaves Milbank Tower after he said he'll quit his Parliament seat and seek re-election. (Thomas Krych/The Associated Press)

Some loyal voters in the southeast England beach town are standing behind Farage.

"Why are they going on about it?" said ​retiree Rosina Herriott, 78, adding that all politicians receive gifts. "It's because of him. They're scared of him, that's what it is."

Others, however, have grown tired of Farage.

Alan Jones, 57, who is unemployed, says Farage has done nothing for Clacton, and he is dismayed that the Reform leader's only challenger is ​Binface.

"That's a joke. Is that a joke?" he said.

Vows to build 'at least 1 affordable house'

In the hours that followed Farage's ​announcement, all the main political parties said they would not take part in the Clacton vote, dubbing it a "stunt" designed to distract attention from the issue of his finances.

Count Binface, however, doesn't mind a stunt. After all, he says, his whole schtick is part of a long and proud tradition of political theatrics in the U.K.

"You do get the occasional novelty candidates. For example, Liberal Democrat. I don't know if you've heard of them, or the Greens. And that's up to them if they want to dress up in silly suits or other assorted menagerie of costumes. That's part of the rich tapestry of democracy," he said.

"That's why I'm here. Because British democracy allows even an alien who looks like a bin to take part. I mean, what's wrong with that?"

Jon Harvey, dressed as Count Binface, attends the vote counting for the Makerfield by-election, which he lost to Andy Burnham. (Temilade Adelaja/Reuters)

He admits he doesn't have much of a connection to Clacton.

"Have I been? No. Why? Because the incumbent seems to think it's not important," he said. "So I thought I should follow the precedent set by Mr. Farage. But I might turn up. I might not. I'm a busy guy."

Binface promises there will be "something for everyone" in his election manifesto.

He says he'll be reviving many of his longstanding election promises, which include nationalizing Adele, renaming London Bridge to "Phoebe Waller-Bridge," stopping the sale of arms to repressive regimes, and "building at least one affordable house."

He admits his ambitious platform hasn't won him an election yet. He received just 95 votes in his most recent byelection and says he's tallied 117,000 throughout his nearly decade-long political career.

Asked if the losses sting, he balked.

"That shows a degree of arrogance and hubris from the international mainstream media of which you should be ashamed," he said. "No, I am proud of every single human vote."