The Art Of Politics: July — War, Peace, New Leaders, And Count Binface
by Richard Bruton
Here we go again, time to take a look at what the best political cartoonists are doing this month. Proving yet again that there’s truth and power in the works they do … it’s The Art of Politics …
Well, it’s been a month. We had America having its 4th of July celebrations whilst the war in Iran just kept on keeping on, despite it being declared, over and over, that a deal was done, the Iranian military was devastated, the war was over already. Plus, the USA hosted the World Cup. And finally, over in the UK, although we got a new Prime Minister, all eyes were on the man called Count Binface. Yes, it’s been a month …
Okay then, let’s begin …
USA celebrated…
Continuing on from last month, the USA was gripped in all manner of 4th of July celebrations … with Trump still doing all his Trump things …
Morten Morland on the issues with the reflecting pool and it’s perfect repair …
The on/off on/off on/off on/off War with Iran continues …
Wasn’t this meant to be over by now? But no, despite telling us so many times that there was a peace deal, that there was a ceasefire, that Iran’s offensive capabilities had been destroyed, that the Strait of Hormuz would be open … here we are.
And Clay Bennett again, riffing on the same …
And then there was the World Cup …
World Cup 2026 is over and done with, and congratulations to Spain as worthy winners. As an England fan, it’s another few more years of hurt now.
We had the hydration (ad) breaks turning the beautiful game into a game of four quarters. We had dubious decisions. We had political intervention in that USA red card. We had FIFA boss Infantino on screen a lot. But most of all we had weeks of (mostly) great football. Of course, immediately following this, the FIFA head, and friend of Trump, put out the idea that they’d partially privatise FIFA competitions. Thankfully, the combined power of the footballing federations appeared to have put that on the back burner for now at least.
So, a few about that …
Morten Morland on Trump’s intervention in the overturned USA red card …
Morten Morland again …
Ann Telnaes on FIFA’s proposal to involve even more corporate greed in football …
Britain — a tale of a new Prime Minister, a ‘man of the people,’ and a Bin(face) …
First, the tale of Farage and Count Binface …
Oh, bloody hell. Where to even begin with this one? How to explain it without anyone not in the UK thinking I’m having some drug-induced fever dream? Here goes …
Nigel Farage, UK politician, leader of right-wing/far-right party Reform UK has been in a bit of bother recently. There was the gift of £5 million from a Thailand-based Brit crypto-flogging billionaire. He claims it was fine because it happened before he was elected Member of Parliament for Clacton. The media and parliament disagree, to the point where they were talking about official investigations. There’s also various donations from, well, let’s say ‘dubious’ sources. To ward off these, he resigned as an MP, presumably thinking it would take the heat off him. Of course, Farage, always wanting to be seen as a man of the people (remember, this is a man who quite recently had a Coutts account – minimum balance, £3 million), announced he would stand in the ensuing by-election for Clacton, and pitched it as Farage vs The Establishment.
Following that, every major political party refused to enter a candidate, seemingly ensuring that Farage would be re-elected and back in parliament to face all the investigations he seems keen to avoid.
Enter Count Binface, one of a long history of comedy candidates often found in British elections. Honestly, it’s a bloke in a costume, cape, wearing a bin on his head, claiming to be leader of the Recyclons from the planet Sigma IX, and putting forward such manifesto pledges as nationalising Adele, corners to be refereed properly in football, people using speakerphones on public transport to be conscripted… You get the idea.
Count Binface declares he’s standing against Nigel Farage in Clacton and suddenly it’s pretty obvious which one’s the man of the people and which one’s The Establishment.
Anyway, Binface has been all over the media; ridiculousness abounds. But crucially, no one has stopped talking about just why it’s happening. Sorry Nige, geezer, it’s just not going away, mate. It probably won’t happen, but could we see Count Binface MP after the by-election in August?
Okay, that enough for you? Now, some fine folks summing it up so much better than I could…
Ben Jennings once more …
Ella Baron on Farage and Binface on the eve of the England v Argentina World Cup semi-final …
And (another) change of Prime Minister… Starmer out, Burnham in…
Here in the UK, we vote in the political party, not the leader. Hence why Downing Street has become such a revolving door in the last decade – 10 years, 7 Prime Ministers. The latest change is Keir Starmer out and Andy Burnham in. Will it change the fortunes of the country? Well, you’ve got to hope so … but …
Ben Jennings linking the changing PMs to England football team manager Thomas Tuchel’s outlook for England …
Martin Rowson on Burnham’s establishment of Number 10 North, bringing government to Manchester as an alternative to London leadership …
Morten Morland on the same…
Chris Riddell on one major issue Burnham’s going to have to deal with … the Trump thing …
Nicola Jennings on the difficulties Burnham faces, plus an idea of just how damn hot and horrible it’s been in most of Britain this summer … hellish, dripping wet with sweat inside and out, as another heat wave begins …
And it wasn’t just Britain sweltering in the heat — around the world, the wildfires and the temperatures raged …
Unprecedented heat waves and temperatures across the world, wild fires ranging … the world doesn’t appear to be doing too well.
Clay Bennett on one thing standing in the way of doing anything about all this …
