:Lord Buckethead

Lord Buckethead was created by the American filmmaker Todd Durham for his 1984 film Hyperspace, a low-budget parody of science fiction films such as Star Wars.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/real-lord-buckethead-cult-sci-fi-film-inspired-theresa-mays/|title=The real Lord Buckethead: the cult sci-fi film that inspired Theresa May's election rival|work=The Telegraph|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en-GB}} In the film, Lord Buckethead, a galactic villain similar to the Star Wars character Darth Vader, was played by Robert Bloodworth.

In the UK, Hyperspace was released as Gremloids by the video distributor VIPCO, owned by Mike Lee.{{Cite web|url=https://reprobatepress.com/2017/06/14/article-lord-buckethead-the-whole-story/|title=Lord Buckethead – The Whole Story|last=reprobatemagazine|date=14 June 2017|website=The Reprobate|language=en-US|access-date=14 December 2019}} In the 1987 general election, Lee stood as Lord Buckethead, representing the Gremloids Party, against the Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher in her constituency in Finchley, London. He campaigned to demolish Birmingham to make way for a spaceport.{{Cite news|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/elections/2017/05/lord-buckethead-vs-theresa-may-meet-uks-weirdest-political-parties|title=Lord Buckethead vs Theresa May – meet the UK's weirdest political parties|work=New Statesman|date=12 May 2017 |language=en|access-date=7 June 2017}} He received 131 votes.{{Cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/a-person-called-lord-buckethead-is-standing-against-theresa|title=A Person Called 'Lord Buckethead' Is Standing Against Theresa May in the Election|last=Waterson|first=Jim|work=BuzzFeed News|date=13 May 2017 |access-date=7 June 2017}} In the 1992 general election, Lord Buckethead stood against the Conservative prime minister John Major in Huntingdon, winning 107 votes (0.1%).{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kfJYBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT150|title=Engel's England: Thirty-nine counties, one capital and one man|author=Matthew Engel|date=23 October 2014|publisher=Profile Books|isbn=978-1-84765-928-6|page=150}}

In 2017, the comedian Jonathan Harvey stood as Lord Buckethead against Theresa May in Maidenhead in the 2017 general election. Harvey decided to use Lord Buckethead after watching Gremloids and discovering that the character had been used in earlier elections. He received 249 (0.4%) votes, the highest yet for the character.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000803|title=Maidenhead parliamentary constituency|date=9 June 2017|publisher=BBC News|access-date=9 June 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/10b1f0fe25154351934939be0fe354ee/The-Latest:-Costumed-candidates-in-UK-get-moment-of-fame|title=The Latest: Costumed candidates in UK get moment of fame|date=9 June 2017|access-date=9 June 2017|quote=She looked grim as her local victory was announced, even while sharing a stage with a man dressed as the Muppet character Elmo (he got three votes), Howling "Laud" Hope of the Monster Raving Loony Party (119 votes) and Lord Buckethead, a towering figure in black with a pail on his head (a resounding 249 votes).|publisher=Associated Press}}

Lord Buckethead's televised appearance standing next to May went viral.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/26/lord-buckethead-double-trouble-theresa-may|title=Double trouble: the fight to be the real Lord Buckethead|last=Waterson|first=Jim|date=26 May 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=14 December 2019|language=en-GB}} In a tongue-in-cheek article, The Guardian gave Lord Buckethead a "Best Policy" award for a manifesto pledge to bring back the teletext services Ceefax.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/08/the-2017-election-awards-from-best-eating-of-a-pringle-to-biggest-dolt|title=The 2017 election awards: from best eating of a Pringle to biggest dolt|last=Heritage|first=Stuart|date=8 June 2017|work=The Guardian}} A few days after the election, Lord Buckethead appeared on the American talk show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, campaigning to lead the Brexit negotiations.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/35e52bfa-8165-4de8-99b2-07898bce3dd4|title=Lord Buckethead has agreed to lead Brexit negotiations|last=Frymorgen |first=Tomasz|publisher=BBC Three|date=12 June 2017 |access-date=19 June 2017}} Harvey created a Twitter account for the character, drawing hundreds of thousands of followers. The Guardian wrote that Lord Buckethead was part of a British tradition of novelty candidates, many of whom were supported by the Official Monster Raving Loony Party.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/09/lord-buckethead-elmo-and-mr-fish-finger-a-very-british-election|title=Lord Buckethead, Elmo and Mr Fishfinger: a very British election|last=Malkin|first=Bonnie|date=9 June 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=10 June 2017}}

Lord Buckethead made a surprise appearance at Glastonbury Festival in June 2017, introducing the band Sleaford Mods.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/lord-buckethead-makes-surprise-glastonbury-appearance-introduce/|title=Lord Buckethead makes surprise appearance at Glastonbury appearance to introduce Sleaford Mods|last=Smith|first=Patrick|date=23 June 2017|work=The Telegraph|access-date=24 June 2017}} That year, he released a Christmas single, "A Bucketful of Happiness", accompanied by a music video.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/world-news/and-finally/lord-buckethead-released-a-music-video-for-christmas-and-its-a-mustwatch-36425363.html|title=Lord Buckethead released a music video for Christmas and it's a must-watch|last=Dracott|first=Edd|date=20 December 2017|work=Irish Independent}}

Following the 2017 election, Durham contacted Harvey and asserted his ownership of the Lord Buckethead character. According to Harvey, Durham instructed him to give him the password to the Twitter account. Harvey acquiesced as he could not afford a legal challenge. Durham said he welcomed authorised applications to stand as the character in future British elections: "My Lord Buckethead character has always been the voice of the people, so my feeling is to let the people be his voice."

The Lord Buckethead Twitter account became active again in 2019. That year, Lord Buckethead, now played by David Hughes, appeared at People's Vote rallies calling for a second Brexit referendum. In April, Buckethead crowdfunded £15,000 to stand against Nigel Farage for South East England MEP in the May 2019 European Parliament Elections. The bid was abandoned for fear it could take votes away from parties campaigning for the UK to remain in the EU. Durham said the money was returned.

For the general election in December 2019, Buckethead represented the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, standing against prime minister Boris Johnson in his constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip. He won 125 votes (0.3%). Harvey also stood, using a new character, Count Binface, winning 69 votes.{{cite news|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/news/5544/who_is_count_binface/|title=Comedian Jon Harvey to take on Boris Johnson as Count Binface|date=14 November 2019|access-date=14 November 2019|language=en-GB|website=British Comedy Guide}}

File:Lord Buckethead and Vermin Supreme.png]]

Lord Buckethead's manifesto in the 2017 election promised "strong, not entirely stable leadership", a reference to the Conservatives' slogan "strong and stable".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39730467|title='Strong and stable' - had enough yet?|last=Moseley|first=Tom|date=27 April 2017|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2 January 2018}} The following promises were included:{{cite news |date=9 June 2017 |title=Meet Lord Buckethead, the U.K. election's intergalactic spacelord |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-friday-edition-1.4153621/meet-lord-buckethead-the-u-k-election-s-intergalactic-spacelord-1.4153627 |publisher=CBC Radio}}{{cite web |last=Lion |first=Patrick |date=9 June 2017 |title=Theresa May's rival Lord Buckethead ran on Katie Hopkins and Adele policies |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/who-lord-buckethead-theresa-mays-10596078 |work=Mirror Online}}{{cite web |title=Buckethead4Maidenhead |url=https://www.buckethead4maidenhead.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608220107/https://www.buckethead4maidenhead.com/ |archive-date=8 June 2017 |work=Buckethead4Maidenhead.com}}

• The abolition of the House of Lords, with the exception of Lord Buckethead
• Nuclear weapons: "A firm public commitment to build the 100-billion-pound renewal of Britain's Trident weapons system, followed by an equally firm commitment, privately, not to build it. They're secret submarines, so no one will ever know. It's a win-win"
• Free bicycles for all to "combat obesity, traffic congestion, and bike theft"
• Reducing the voting age to 16 and restricting voting beyond the age of 80
• Instead of Theresa May's commitment to bring back grammar schools, Buckethead would build "gamma" schools founded on three principles: "One, better funding for teachers, to attract bright graduates. Two, increased facilities for children, especially playing fields. Three, if any child misbehaves three times, they are blasted into deep space, with the parents provided with a lovely fruit basket, by way of consolation or celebration, depending on the child. Discipline is key"
• A referendum on whether or not to have another Brexit referendum
• Legalise the hunting of fox hunters
• Nationalise the pop singer Adele
• Exile of right-wing columnist Katie Hopkins to the "Phantom Zone"
• Regeneration of Nicholson's Shopping Centre, Maidenhead
• The cessation of arms sales to Saudi Arabia so that Britain can purchase laser weaponry from Lord Buckethead

Lord Buckethead's 2019 election manifesto included the following promises:{{Cite web |title=2019 LORD BUCKETHEAD MANIFESTO |url=http://www.lordbuckethead.co.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101104644/http://www.lordbuckethead.co.uk/ |archive-date=2020-11-01 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Lord Buckethead}}{{psi|date=May 2025}}

• Nigel Farage to be sold for parts
• Isaac Newton's laws of gravity to be negotiated
• All doorways to be increased by 1 foot (30cm) in height
• Political debates to include a swimsuit competition
• Pass a law to require all men with various spellings of Alistair to pick one spelling
• Shepard's pies required to contain at least 10% shepard
• The third dimension to be extended so a fourth dimension could be provided by 2030
• Giving money to the Royal Astronomical Society to rename Uranus to something less embarrassing
• Replace the House of Lords with a Palace of the Supreme Galactic Overlord
• The Prime Minister's salary to be based on job performance as with all career criminals

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1987: Finchley}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Margaret Thatcher

|votes = 21,603

|percentage = 53.9

|change = +2.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = John Davies

|votes = 12,690

|percentage = 31.7

|change = +4.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = David Howarth

|votes = 5,580

|percentage = 13.9

|change = −7.3

}}

{{Election box candidate

|party = Gremloids

|candidate = Lord Buckethead

|votes = 131

|percentage = 0.3

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate

|party = Gold Party

|candidate = Michaelle St Vincent

|votes = 59

|percentage = 0.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 40,063

|percentage = 69.4

|change = +0.4

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| |title=General election 1992: Huntingdon{{cite web|url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/i11.htm|title=UK General Election results April 1992|date=9 April 1992|work=Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources|publisher=Politics Resources|access-date=6 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181348/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/i11.htm|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| |party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = John Major

|votes = 48,662

|percentage = 66.2

|change = +2.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| |party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Hugh Seckleman

|votes = 12,432

|percentage = 16.9

|change = +3.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Andrew Duff

|votes = 9,386

|percentage = 12.8

|change = −8.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| |party = Liberal Party (UK, 1989)

|candidate = Paul Wiggin

|votes = 1,045

|percentage = 1.4

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| |party = Green Party of England and Wales

|candidate = Deborah Birkhead

|votes = 846

|percentage = 1.2

|change = −0.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| |party = Official Monster Raving Loony Party

|candidate = Screaming Lord Sutch

|votes = 728

|percentage = 1.0

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate

| |party = Conservative Thatcherite

|candidate = Michael Flanagan

|votes = 231

|percentage = 0.3

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate

| |party = Gremloids

|candidate = Lord Buckethead

|votes = 107

|percentage = 0.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate

| |party = Forward to Mars Party

|candidate = Charles S. Cockell

|votes = 91

|percentage = 0.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| |party = Natural Law Party

|candidate = David Shepherd

|votes = 26

|percentage = 0.0

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout

| |votes = 73,554

|percentage = 79.2

|change = +5.2

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| title = General election 2017: Maidenhead{{cite web|title=Statement of persons nominated – Maidenhead|url=https://www3.rbwm.gov.uk/downloads/file/3117/statement_of_persons_nominated_-_maidenhead|website=Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead|access-date=11 May 2017|archive-date=2 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802163820/https://www3.rbwm.gov.uk/downloads/file/3117/statement_of_persons_nominated_-_maidenhead|url-status=dead}}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Conservative Party (UK)

| candidate = Theresa May

| votes = 37,718

| percentage = 64.8

| change = −1.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Labour Party (UK)

| candidate = Pat McDonald

| votes = 11,261

| percentage = 19.3

| change = +7.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

| candidate = Tony Hill

| votes = 6,540

| percentage = 11.2

| change = +1.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = Green Party of England and Wales

| candidate = Derek Wall

| votes = 907

| percentage = 1.6

| change = −2.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = UK Independence Party

| candidate = Gerard Batten

| votes = 871

| percentage = 1.5

| change = −6.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = Animal Welfare Party

| candidate = Andrew Knight

| votes = 282

| percentage = 0.5

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate

| | party = Gremloids

| candidate = Lord Buckethead

| votes = 249

| percentage = 0.4

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = Independent politician

| candidate = Grant Smith

| votes = 152

| percentage = 0.3

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = Official Monster Raving Loony Party

| candidate = Howling Laud Hope

| votes = 119

| percentage = 0.2

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = Christian Peoples Alliance

| candidate = Edmonds Victor

| votes = 69

| percentage = 0.1

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate

| | party = The Just Political Party

| candidate = Julian Reid

| votes = 52

| percentage = 0.1

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = Independent politician

| candidate = Yemi Hailemariam

| votes = 16

| percentage = 0.0

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate

| | party = Give Me Back Elmo

| candidate = Bobby Smith

| votes = 3

| percentage = 0.0

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 58,239

| percentage = 76.4

| change = +3.8

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| title = General election 2019: Uxbridge and South Ruislip

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Conservative Party (UK)

| candidate = Boris Johnson

| votes = 25,351

| percentage = 52.6

| change = +1.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Labour Party (UK)

| candidate = Ali Milani

| votes = 18,141

| percentage = 37.6

| change = −2.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

| candidate = Joanne Humphreys

| votes = 3,026

| percentage = 6.3

| change = +2.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = Green Party of England and Wales

| candidate = Mark Keir

| votes = 1,090

| percentage = 2.3

| change = +0.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = UK Independence Party

| candidate = Geoffrey Courtenay

| votes = 283

| percentage = 0.6

| change = −2.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| |party = Official Monster Raving Loony Party

| candidate = Lord Buckethead

| votes = 125

| percentage = 0.3

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = Independent

| candidate = Count Binface

| votes = 69

| percentage = 0.1

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = Independent

| candidate = Alfie Utting

| votes = 44

| percentage = 0.1

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = Independent

| candidate = Yace Yogenstein

| votes = 23

| percentage = 0.0

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = Independent

| candidate = Norma Burke

| votes = 22

| percentage = 0.0

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = Independent

| candidate = Bobby Elmo Smith

| votes = 8

| percentage = 0.0

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| | party = Independent

| candidate = William Tobin

| votes = 5

| percentage = 0.0

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 48,174

| percentage = 68.5

| change = +1.7

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Portal|Politics|United Kingdom}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{wikiquote}}

• {{officialwebsite | http://www.lordbuckethead.co.uk/}}
• [https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/interior-shots-1992-general-election-huntingdon-news-footage/462528932 Lord Buckethead with John Major, 1992]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buckhead, Lord}}

Category:Anonymity pseudonyms

Category:English politicians

Category:British political candidates

Category:Film characters introduced in 1984

Category:Fictional lords and ladies

Category:Science fiction film characters

Category:British political satire

Category:Novelty candidates

Category:Official Monster Raving Loony Party politicians