Why I can’t endorse Count Binface
Duncan Chapel replies to Jessica MacKenzie and Simon Hannah
In a hilarious endorsement that spotlights the ridiculousness of the Farage versus Binface election in Clacton, my Anti-Capitalist Resistance comrades Jessica MacKenzie and Simon Hannah put their case for the Count:
"Of course, we want a grassroots-led movement to achieve the revolutionary transformation needed to fight disaster capitalism. But that’s not what we’re working with at the moment – it doesn’t seem likely that anyone with these politics will be standing in Clacton this time.
And when there is no credible socialist candidate in Clacton or organised movement which can mobilise against Farage, the nation turns its eyes to an unlikely hero.
We wish Count Binface well in Clacton and hope that he crushes the far-right chancer standing for Reform."
Regardless of the comic flair in their article, it’s not satire: they stand with a large part of the English left, almost certainly a majority, who would lend their vote to the comedian. My response is po-faced. I see the comedy, but the underlying political questions are serious: how should anticapitalists vote when professional politicians turn corrupt, and no one can expose them like entertainers: Count Binface, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Bepe Grillo and Coluche? And under what circumstances should we vote for the lesser evil?
To see my response, visit the ACR website.
You are right your response is a bit po faced. I dont think Simon and Jessica actually endorse voting for Binface and certainly do not suggest that the ACR should call for a vote for him in the same way that we clearly called for a vote (correctly imo) for the Greens in the Gorton byelection. Most of their article uses the peg of the widespread interest in Binface to make some educational eco socialist arguments. You are right - and i am sure Jessie and Duncan agree - that satirical candidates like Binface are not a way forward for the working class struggle. As you say it leaves nothing the day after. However what they do recognise - and maybe you underestimate this a little - is that objectively a big vote for Binface creates major problems for Farage#s project which is already being weakened by the emergence of Burnham . the latter has a few policies that may win back Reform voters and is a much stronger politician and communicator than Starmer. One other thing on Grillo. Unlike Colouche or BInface after comedic stunts (VAfanculo day) he did develop a serious political project with active branches around the country as well as a huge social media presence. It has a legacy with a party of around 12% or so which has a few positions often to the left of the PD. It was Conte and the M5S movement who were responsible for winning the citizens income reform which has been a material gain for the poorest sections of the working class. I have friends in Italy who are progressive and identify to an extent with the M5s. Grillo himself has exited the political scene.