Back when I was in college, student union elections had a candidate called RON on each vote. RON was Re—Open Nominations. Basically “none of the above”, which would cause a restart of the election for than role if it got the most votes.

It's mostly negative polarization driving things these days, so I don't think that idea makes as much sense as it once did.

In this particular case, the main stream parties did not take part (i.e. field candidates) because the current MP (Farage) resigned just to retake his own seat - basically trying to distract from his dodgy dealings with crypto bros and convicted fraudsters.

I would have voted Count Binface too (as the least absurd candidate).

> Every election should have a funny absurdist person like this absorbing all the blank and null votes to give the other candidates more incentives to convince the electorate.

We have absurdist clown candidates in America, the difference is they actually win... even after failed attempts at insurrection.