Farage Faces "Count Binface" in Record-Breaking UK By-Election
Listen to the story
British populist leader Nigel Farage is seeking re-election in a by-election in Clacton, England. The vote has attracted more candidates than any other in the history of the British Parliament.
Farage is often described as an ultra, meaning a leader with very strong right-wing political views. He is well known in the UK for his role in the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union.
Among the many candidates in this unusual by-election is a joke contender known as "Count Binface." A binface is a British slang term for a trash can, and this candidate is known for running in elections purely for comic effect, without any serious chance of winning.
The by-election has been described as one of the most surreal in recent British political history, partly because of the huge and unusual list of candidates competing for a single seat.
Local reactions in Clacton show strong opinions on both sides. One supporter said, "Nigel Farage is the best. We must expel foreigners," reflecting the debate around immigration that often surrounds Farage's political career.
Farage's party has grown in influence in recent years, and this by-election is being closely watched as a test of his continuing support among voters.
The result of the Clacton by-election will show whether Farage can keep his seat despite facing an unusually crowded and unpredictable field of candidates.
Vocabulary10 words
- populist
- a leader who claims to represent ordinary people
- Parliament
- the group that makes laws in a country
- ultra
- someone with extreme political views
- Binface
- a funny British word for a trash can
- by-election
- a small election to fill one empty seat
- surreal
- very strange, almost like a dream
- immigration
- people moving to live in another country
- candidate
- someone who wants to win an election
- seat
- a position representing an area in Parliament
- expel
- to force someone to leave a place
Quiz
Answer key
1. It has more candidates than any previous British parliamentary election 2. A joke candidate named after a British word for a trash can 3. Being a populist, right-wing leader linked to Brexit
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
British populist leader Nigel Farage is seeking _____ in a by-election in Clacton, England.
The vote has attracted more _____ than any other in the history of the British Parliament.
Farage is often described as an _____, meaning a leader with very strong right-wing views.
He is well known for his role in the campaign for Britain to leave the _____.
Among the candidates is a joke contender known as "Count _____."
A binface is British slang for a trash _____.
This candidate runs in elections purely for comic effect, without a serious chance of _____.
One supporter said, "Nigel Farage is the best. We must _____ foreigners."
This reflects the debate around _____ that often surrounds Farage's career.
The result will show whether Farage can keep his _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think a joke candidate like "Count Binface" chooses to run in elections?
- What effect might having so many candidates have on the outcome of an election?
- Why do populist leaders like Nigel Farage often generate strong opinions?
- How do issues like immigration influence political campaigns in your country?