By Roberta Spada
With at least 28 satirical candidates set to run in the upcoming general election, scholars say this very British phenomenon helps make politics more accessible.
“They are potentially a gateway drug into politics,” said Nicholas Holm, associate professor of media studies at Massey University in New Zealand. “These kinds of candidates often speak to people that have felt like they have been left out. It’s especially working class and impoverished youth…especially racialised youth.”
Howling Laud Hope, leader of the Monster Raving Looney Party, who is standing to represent Northeast Hampshire, said: “We are the only party that’s on everybody’s side. We are the people’s party really.”
The Monster Raving Looney party was established in 1982 and is part of a tradition of satirical candidates, political figures and parties that use satire to shed light on socio-political issues.
“We have a laugh and joke but underneath it has many, many serious things,” said Howling Laud Hope. “The others are the joke,” he added.
Holm said these candidates’ approach helps people to emotionally connect to a political discourse that has become overly serious. “The use of humour makes it more attractive and amenable to a population who might not be as open to the critique if it were expressed in non-humorous terms,” he explained.
For instance, one prominent satirical candidate, Count Binface, has called for a cap on the price of croissants, as well as building “at least one affordable house” in his latest manifesto. Both mocking but also highlighting the current UK cost-of-living-crisis.
Satirical candidates have been livening up debates, creating chaos, and pushing for new policies in UK politics for decades.
Some of their achievements include campaigns for pet passports and lowering the voting age from 21 to 18. They don’t want to stop there – the Monster Raving Looney Party wants to give 5-year-olds the vote, to match what, according to them, is the behaviour of MPs in Parliament.
“If you don’t usually vote, then vote unusually,” said Hope.
Feature Image: Members of the Monster Raving Looney Party. Photo credit: Monster Raving Looney Party official website.