What if Binface wins? The rules around becoming an MP

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Reform leader Mr Farage resigned as Clacton MP on Tuesday over a row regarding his finances and will contest the seat again on Thursday, August 13.

But with all mainstream parties vowing to boycott the by-election, with Labour calling it a "stunt", there is now just an assortment of independents and smaller outfits involved.

Ten candidates have run so far, with Laurence Fox and Binface being the highest profile, and it has led to a deep dive into quirky and bizarre British political history.

Here are some of the rules and regulations in play:

Read also: Who is Rupert Lowe? Restore Britain leader slammed for Joe Rogan comments

Who is able to stand to be an MP in the UK?

There are a few rules around becoming an MP. You must be at least 18 for a start, and be a British citizen, an Irish citizen, or a citizen of a Commonwealth country - and not require leave to enter or remain.

There are disqualifying factors, too, and you cannot stand if you are:

• A member of the police,
• A member of the armed forces,
• A civil servant or a judge,
• Subject to bankruptcy restrictions,
• Owner of a sequestrated estate.

How does someone become an MP?

Essentially, you need to be popular within a local party, or a well-liked local independent, and have £500 to hand.

To become a candidate representing a political party, a person must be officially selected by the party's nominating officer and will be chosen after an internal selection process.

This does not apply to independents, who can just put themselves forward.

However, an additional qualifier is for all candidates to present the signatures of 10 nominees, all of whom must live within the constituency, for their selection.

Larger parties can count on members to sort this without much of an issue, but the practice can see candidates from smaller outfits needing to door knock in order to get the required number.

In addition, a candidate must also stump up a £500 deposit to stand before the close of nominations, an amount that will be returned if they gain a vote share of 5% or higher.

The idea is that it deters joke candidates, but it is also common for mainstream parties to lose their deposits, and in general elections, around 50% of candidates lose their deposits.

Labour lost one deposit in 2024, the Conservatives lost 31, the Lib Dems 229, Reform 32, and the Green Party 258.

Can Count Binface actually become an MP?

Yes, if he meets the above criteria, he can stand - but he might be required to remove his bin helmet.

Parliamentary rules state that members are required to dress in "business-like attire," which, for men, is usually a shirt and trousers, and an optional tie.

Members are not permitted to wear "decorations" in the House of Commons, and rules state that Members must "not in principle" have their face covered while voting in a division or speaking in the House.

This might prove problematic for Count Binface, who only ever appears in character while wearing his helmet and costume.

Jonathan David Harvey, as is his official name, has not commented on whether he might be prepared to remove his helmet.

But his appearance is not a mystery, and Harvey is relatively well-known as a comedian and an after-dinner speaker.

What does Farage have to do in order to stand?

Here is where it gets really complicated...

Elected MPs are unable to resign while Parliament is in progress, so a procedure dating back to 1620 is invoked, where the Chancellor will appoint them to one of two historic positions.

The exiting MP could become either Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern, or the Manor of Northstead, both ceremonial titles.

Holding one of these titles means they are banned from being an MP, and they therefore leave Parliament.

In one recent example, Boris Johnson was briefly Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern after he resigned as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Mr Farage will now be the next Steward of the Manor of Northstead.

But the complicating factor this time around is that he cannot be both a Steward and an MP, so he will need to be released from the ceremonial role if he is to become an MP once more - which is an unusual move.

The maneuver is overseen by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and she has been urged to not accept his resignation, or to not release him from the Manor of Northstead in order for him to stand again.

Chris Bryant, a Labour MP, said there is precedent for this.

“The chancellor refused to appoint Henry Cadogan MP for Reading to the Chiltern Hundreds in 1842 because he believed the MP was attempting to vacate his seat to conceal corrupt financial compromises and electoral bribery," he tweeted.

However, Ms Reeves has indicated that she will not stand in the way of Mr Farage.

She tweeted: "It is a farce and a desperate distraction, and the people of Clacton deserve better.

"But if he wants to spend the summer arguing with a bin, I won't stop him."