Bath’s mysterious fifth general election candidate has finally been revealed - and he wants the UK to leave the solar system by 2028.
Political satirist and artist Bill Blockhead follows in the tradition of protest candidates like Lord Buckethead, Mr Fishfinger and Screaming Lord Sutch.
He is standing with the slogan “Don’t Vote for Bill, he’s a Blockhead”.
The independent is up against Liberal Democrat Wera Hobhouse, Labour’s Mike Davies, Jimi Ogunnusi from the Brexit Party and Conservative candidate Annabel Tall.
Here is his full bio:
"Born as a Blockhead, throughout his life Bill put his larger than average brain to good use. There was plenty of space in his rather impressive head for many different ideas.
"A resident of Bath for more than two decades, Bill has observed a lack of political diversity. Therefore, he has decided to stand as an independent in the 2019 snap general election.
"Bill’s first five pledges:
- He will campaign for the UK to leave the solar system by 2028
- Improved mental health services (furry animals on prescription) - he will give a FREE guinea pig or alternative small rodent to every citizen
- The environment - he will personally begin digging up the London Road and plant it with spring bulbs and perennials
- Bring back the trams to Bath - made from strawberry jelly and gingerbread men with sprinkles
- Free annual summer and winter parties for all - funded by any Bath resident in the 40% tax bracket
"Follow Bill Blockhead’s campaign progress on Instagram @billblockhead."
A recent post calling for a national policy on pancakes has been tagged #absurd and #satire.
The UK has a colourful history of protest candidates.
Lord Buckethead, an "intergalactic space lord", has stood against three Conservative Party leaders - he faced Margaret Thatcher in 1987, John Major in 1992 and Theresa May in 2017, when he promised "strong, not entirely stable, leadership" and won 249 votes, a personal best.
Mr Fish Finger beat that record with 309 votes when he stood against then Lib Dem leader Tim Farron in 2017.
His "manifishto" said: "I will work to provide a better education system for students. Free fishing rods for everyone."
Perhaps the best known protest candidate is Official Monster Raving Looney Party founder Screaming Lord Sutch. He stood for election unsuccessfully 40 times between 1963 and 1997.
The party had a number of policies that have now become law, including lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 and pet passports.
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