Image source, EPAImage caption, Costumed candidates at UK elections are a longstanding tradition
ByOlivia Ireland- Published20 June 2026
Andy Burnham - a man who hopes to be the next prime minister - stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a man in a fox costume and an "intergalactic space warrior" with a bin for a face when he was announced as the winner of the Makerfield by-election.
These costumed characters barely registered as unusual to members of the public and supporters, as Count Binface, the fox and another, Howling Laud Hope, all shook hands with Labour's Burnham before he gave his victory speech.
Eccentric scenes like this have become a common sight in British politics, and candidates are often motivated to run for a variety of different reasons. But their satirical stances often give more serious messages a moment of attention - and can even influence future laws.
Henry Zeffman: What does Keir Starmer do next after Andy Burnham's Makerfield win?
- Published3 days ago
The key figures in Andy Burnham's inner circle
- Published18 hours ago
Rob Pownall spends most of his time running Protect the Wild, which advocates for British wildlife, but in recent weeks he ran for the Makerfield seat dressed as a fox.
"It was a brilliant display of British democracy in action," says Pownall - who sees people running in costumes as a part of Britain's "unique eccentric energy".
It was not his first time running as a candidate. In May he dressed as a giant gannet while running as a candidate for Scottish Parliament to call for the end of the Guga hunt, a centuries old Hebridean tradition to hunt the bird.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Pownall (right) used his platform during the by-election to advocate for animal rights
His motivation was to "shine a light on issues that don't get the headlines" and as he shook Burnham's hand, Pownall took the opportunity to speak about his advocacy for British wildlife.
"I urged him if he is to become prime minister to actually do something to protect animals - whether to finally end fox hunting for good or committing to a complete end to the badger cull."
Image source, EPAImage caption, Monster Raving Loony Party candidate Howling Laud Hope (c) with supporters at the Makerfield by-election on Thursday
Another character that has regularly appeared up against well-known politicians including former prime ministers Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson, Theresa May and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, is Count Binface.
He has become an expected part of elections, with a manifesto for Makerfield published on his website including policies to be "the UK's entrant at Eurovision 2027" and "wifi on trains that works. Also trains that work".
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Then-prime minister Boris Johnson winning the 2019 election as the MP for Uxbridge with Count Binface and Bobby "Elmo" Smith behind him
Speaking to Sky News, external, he said reasons for running included to "rephase the traffic lights on Liverpool road", "price cap Wigan kebabs at £2" and "build at least one affordable house".
"I believe elected mayors should serve out their terms before they're eligible to stand for parliament," was another point raised by Count Binface.
The BBC has contacted him for comment.
Currently it costs £500 to run as a candidate for elections. Those who poll above 5% of the total valid votes get that sum returned.
Another costumed character running for Makerfield was Alan "Howling Laud" Hope, the leader of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party who has played a key role in the tradition of running for election in a costume for more than 40 years.
Hope has previously run against former prime ministers David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Theresa May, and told the BBC he has run at least 38 times.
The party has put up more than 200 candidates over the years.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Then-prime minister David Cameron (left) shaking hands with Alan "Howling Laud" Hope in 2010
The party was formed in 1982 and founded by Hope and the late David Sutch - also known as Screaming Lord Sutch.
Also a rock 'n' roll musician, Sutch first ran in 1963 in the Stratford by-election and also ran against former prime minister Harold Wilson in the 1966 election.
He ran for a total of 41 parliamentary seats.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Conservative candidate Thomas Lyrian Hobday (l), David 'Screaming Lord Sutch' (c) and then-prime minister Harold Wilson (r) share cigars after the results of the Huyton election in 1966
While The Official Monster Raving Loony Party kicks members out if they stand a chance of winning an election, certain policies it has campaigned on since it formed in 1983 have become law.
For example, throughout the 1980s the party campaigned for pubs to remain open during the day, rather than shutting in the afternoons - something which came into force in 2005.
The party also called for the reduction of the voting age to 16 since it formed - 16 and 17-year-olds can now vote in certain elections in Scotland and Wales.
Labour also introduced a bill in February to lower the voting age to 16 for all UK citizens.
In 1985, the Conservative government, then led by Margaret Thatcher who Sutch also ran against, introduced laws that candidates who poll less than 5% of the total valid votes will lose their deposit.
However, a year later, then-home office minister David Mellor conceded the policy had not worked, as candidates including Sutch ran in the 1986 Fulham by-election in costume.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Screaming Lord Sutch in 1992 outside the gates of Downing Street
"[The election] took place against a backdrop of a lot of people dressed like idiots, behaving like idiots and waving idiotic slogans," he told the BBC at the time.
"I think we probably are just going to have to live with this."
Related topics
What is Burnham's path to becoming Labour leader and PM?
- Published2 days ago
Sir John Curtice: Burnham's win against Reform represents remarkable personal success
- Published4 days ago
Who is Andy Burnham? Returning MP who wants to be prime minister
- Published20 hours ago
