Count Binface tying with Laurence Fox in London mayoral race
Satirical character matches anti-lockdown activist for support
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Your support makes all the difference.Novelty candidate Count Binface is tying with anti-lockdown activist Laurence Fox in the London mayoral contest, new polling has found.
The former Lewis actor – who launched his Reclaim Party campaign last month with a promise to “unlock” the capital from all Covid rules – has only 1 per cent support.
Count Binface, the satirical politician created by comedian Jon Harvey, and the Ukip candidate Peter Gammons are also on 1 per cent backing in the race, according to the Savanta ComRes poll.
Mr Fox, who has struggled to gain any headway with his anti-woke agenda over the past month, has previously claimed his new party had raised £5m in donations.
Binface taunted his rival on Twitter over the latest survey result – pointing out he had spent “zero” money and had still managed to match the Reclaim candidate in the polls.
Mr Fox has promised to “reclaim” Londoners’ personal freedoms during the public health crisis, and to erect hundreds of new military statues and plaques.
A confirmed vaccine sceptic, the actor-turned-controversialist has said that he would refuse to get the Covid jab until after 2023 – when he claims all the tests needed to convince him of its safety would be completed.
“It’s not going to do me any harm [not having it], is it?” Mr Fox has told the Guido Fawkes blog. “I think people should do what they want with their own bodies in terms of vaccinations. It should be private, like voting.”
The latest poll shows Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan on course to take City Hall again, with 41 per cent support. Tory candidate Shaun Bailey languishes well behind on 28 per cent, while Lib Dem Luisa Porritt is on 8 per cent and Green Sian Berry is on 6 per cent.
Mr Khan has been urged to ditch plans for a new road tunnel in east London on the grounds that it will make it harder to meet the UK’s climate goals.
Experts have warned that the Silvertown Tunnel will encourage more people to drive and increase traffic and pollution on surrounding roads.
In a letter sent to the mayor and transport secretary Grant Shapps, seen by The Independent, dozens of eminent academics said it would be “foolhardy to press ahead with an infrastructure project that can only contribute to the UK’s excessive greenhouse gas emissions”.
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