Ben Smith's fictional councillor set out convinced he had all the answers. The trouble is, real life keeps asking better questions.

Nigel Farage once became the butt of jokes about "losing to a dolphin". Now Count Binface has become the unexpected face of the Clacton campaign. Here are 20 memes charting the story. 👇

Essex coast seagulls love a good bin! @countbinface.bsky.social @eastangliabylines.co.uk

It started with a satirical candidate. Then TV news started interviewing him. Then the memes took over... Here are 20 of the best Count Binface posts from X and Bluesky. 👇

🔴 NEW: The Walls Are Closing In Around Nigel Farage’s Crypto Insurgency Nigel Farage's party is now connected to multiple parliamentary and police investigations, as questions grow about its opaque crypto-connected funding, reports Matt Gallagher Read the full story below.

Can a politician change... ...without admitting they were wrong? Fictional councillor Mike Stray's journey takes another unexpected turn. Ben Smith passes it on

Yesterday, in the Health Bill Committee, I spoke about why patient safety must be at the heart of everything we do in the NHS - not treated as an add-on, but embedded in the culture of care, support and accountability. 👇️

📌 ICYMI — The Missing Part Of Keir Starmer’s Plan To Clamp Down On Foreign Election Meddling — @josiahmortimer.bsky.social The UK Government has announced a series of major reforms designed to prevent foreign interference in our politics, yet campaigners fear they have left the…

People of Clacton, a timely reminder Nigel Farage wants to - leave the ECHR - repeal the Equality Act - Strip back workers rights - Lift restrictions on exploitative zero-hours contracts - repeal the Renters’ Rights Act MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT! youtu.be/KxOQRt8PQys?...

🔴 NEW: Palantir Co-Founder Peter Thiel and Reform UK’s Cambridge University Recruitment Pipeline Project Revealed By @nafeez.bsky.social, @peterjukes.bsky.social and @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social The world-renowned academic institution has nothing to say in response to a six-month investigation…

Why Pope Leo has excommunicated a group of conservative Catholics It’s the latest twist in a long-running saga between the Vatican and this contentious traditionalist group northeastbylines.co.uk/culture/reli...

🔴 NEW: Parliament’s Standards Watchdog Rejected Complaints About Farage’s ‘Hidden Property Empire’ Months Before Times Exposé It exposes a glaring loophole in Parliamentary transparency rules, reports Josiah Mortimer Read the full story below.

Disposable BBQs, dogs off leads, and fly tipping: our reserves are being pushed to the limit. Please keep dogs on leads and leave no trace. These spaces belong to us all. 🐕🔥 #LeaveNoTrace

Farage has forced a by-election. But if the other parties won't play along, has the strategy backfired before polling day? The Bear’s latest ⤵️

I've written to Sir Keir Starmer to thank him for his leadership, service and dedication to our country. Thank you, Keir, and best wishes for the future. #Labour

Tomorrow, I'll be joined by an expert panel in Bury St Edmunds for Dirty Business? The Future of Britain’s Water – a public discussion on the challenges facing our waterways. #WaterActionDay There are still free tickets available: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1990392747...

As a former NHS Consultant Surgeon, I know how vital resident doctors are to our NHS. I'm pleased this agreement has been reached. It's good news for doctors, good news for patients, and another step towards rebuilding our NHS. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The people of Suffolk are kind and compassionate, but they also deserve to have their voices heard. Today, I asked the Government how local communities will be consulted on the proposals for RAF Barnham and what role the local planning authority will play.

A hangover, a dull meeting – then a chance collision changes everything. One question about a stain throws Mike an unexpected lifeline. From an unepected quarter. #satire By Ben Smith

Ever climbed into a car that's been baking in the sun and wondered why our biggest car parks don't have shade? The Government was considering exactly that. It has now quietly parked the idea. Here's why it matters. eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...

Politicians making quite a bit of money is rather in the news.... On this side of the pond, a local politician is doing rather well advertising gold bullion... Via BBC News

BBC lawyers playing Trump at his own game and he's too lazy to have read the rules.

● Farage received £91,200 from a gold bullion company for four hours of work in January 2025. ● That's just £146 less than his MP salary for a whole year. ● And people wonder why he's never in Clacton. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

1/2 Keir turned around our party and has given huge service to our country - both as our Prime Minister and a reforming public prosecutor. We all owe him thanks for that service and the progress that has been made, from stronger workers rights to rising wages and falling waiting lists.

Introducing the NEW Natural History GCSE 🌳🐙🐢🌺 Where better to announce the NEW Natural History GCSE than at the Natural History Museum here in South Kensington!?

Whatever people think domestically, as a statesman on the world stage Keir Starmer was exemplary

Andy Burnham’s response to Keir Starmer’s resignation

Keir Starmer transformed the Labour Party and secured a historic victory in 2024 - one which has helped us to deliver huge changes. An end to the two child benefit limit, a new child poverty strategy and big steps forward to tackle violence against women and girls.

A good day for the country, a good day for Labour, and, dare I say it, a good day for Kier Starmer. He's been professional and statesmanlike to the end. Now a new chapter starts, with a new leader, and a renewed sense of optimism.

Following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation announcement today, we’ve seen claims that he will be entitled to a £115,000-a-year “pension” as a former Prime Minister. This is misleading. Here’s what that figure actually refers to 👇

It's important to remember we're not "all the same." Across Labour, there are hundreds of hardworking MPs, councillors and activists who are want to deliver change in their communities. We cannot let "Scandelson" get in the way of our values. Me on @bbclaurak.bsky.social this morning👇

Former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown on the integrity of @Keir_Starmer and how he is dealing with the current political revelations about #PeterMandelson. Clear and relevant commentary.

BREAKING: Gordon Brown defends Keir Starmer "I can look in his eyes and see he is a man of integrity. "He wants to do the right things. Perhaps he has been too slow to do the right things. But he must do the right things now. "Lets judge what he does"

🚨BREAKING: Parliament is going to debate the petition – BY-ELECTIONS TO BE CALLED AUTOMATICALLY WHEN MP’S DEFECT TO ANOTHER PARTY on 16 March 2026! Contact/Tag your MP now and ask them to attend the debate and speak out in support

Reform UK will face a police investigation in Gorton and Denton after admitting it sent out letters from a “concerned neighbour” which did not state they had been funded and distributed by the party www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Tourism in Bury St Edmunds is booming, hitting a record £55.9m, with more visitors staying longer and spending more. A huge credit to our local businesses, culture, and heritage – and to everyone who makes Bury such a special place to visit! suffolknews.co.uk/bury-st-edmu...

BREAKING: “I believe he (Keir Starmer) should stay.. he admits he’s made a bad mistake, he has apologised for it and I’m sure he will learn from that” Work & Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden

BREAKING: Morgan McSweeney resigns. GOOD! 🙌

Here's a brief overview of some of the things I have been doing this week across the constituency and in Parliament! 👇

Elon’s emails to Epstein. Location: Starbase, Texas

You dont win 'em all! Reform's Matt Goodwin in Sunday Times: 'Most .. people criticising me are nerds.The last thing I want is to be at some dinner party table with Nick Robinson & Mary Beard. I'd rather shoot myself in the head'. Hang on, I'm not THAT bad!Nerds sometimes have a (thoughtful!) point.

BREAKING: Keir Starmer has suggested Peter Mandelson should resign from the House of Lords and upper chamber should urgently modernise disciplinary procedures to strip him of peerage

🔴 Tommy Robinson and the London News Website Linked to a Putin-Backed Propaganda Network Far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon was appointed as an ambassador to an unregistered charity connected to a Russian 'black PR' operation, Matt Bernardini reports

It’s not just about birds. 🦔 With hedgehogs threatened and vanishing from the countryside due to habitat loss, BTO data proves that urban gardens are now a critical refuge. Your green space keeps them alive, reports Susan Jones. eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...

Recent voter research by More in Common shows British audiences are far less tolerant of Trump-style disruption than Reform seems to assume. That gap matters. Read Luke Tryl's analysis ⤵️ @eastangliabylines.co.uk @moreincommonuk.bsky.social @luketryl.bsky.social

A viral image which supposedly shows Nigel Farage visiting a child with terminal cancer in hospital isn’t real. It’s based on a real picture of a boy with cancer, which has then been edited with the help of AI to include the Reform UK leader.

📌 ICYMI — Tommy Robinson and the London News Website Linked to a Putin-Backed Propaganda Network Far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon was appointed as an ambassador… https://bylinetimes.com/2026/02/02/tommy-robinson-and-the-london-news-website-linked-to-a-putin-backed-propaganda-network/

Just a quick reminder that my Meet Your MP event is taking place tomorrow in Bury St Edmunds. Do come along to share your views, raise local issues, and hear about my work for Bury St Edmunds & Stowmarket. Full details can be found below. 👇

Blimey. Did I really just hear Keir Starmer say this “They had more positions in 14 years than the Kama Sutra. No wonder they are knackered and they left the country screwed” #PMQs

“The actions of grok & X are disgusting & shameful & the decision to turn this into a premium service is horrific & we are determined to take action ..I have been informed this morning that X is acting to ensure full compliance with UK law ..but we are not going to back down” PM Keir Starmer #PMQs