RantCrush Top 5: June 9, 2017

Technically speaking, anyone can enter the U.K. general election as a candidate. And while Theresa May was waiting for the results to be counted, she was joined on the stage by some other candidates. Elmo received three votes, Howling “Laud” Hope of the Monster Raving Loony Party got 119, and Lord Buckethead, dressed as a black knight, got a full 249 votes.

Folks, the Brits have Elmo, Boss Hogg, and Trash Can Darth Vader as candidates. They never get to make fun of our elections again. pic.twitter.com/Sic6x2EeFa

— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) June 9, 2017

Lord Buckethead’s campaign slogan was, “Strong, not entirely stable, leadership.” He actually ran against Conservative Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher, in 1987, and John Major, in 1992. He lost. Another popular candidate, who ran in a different part of the country, was a fish finger. He actually got 309 votes.

Why I love British politics: Tim Farron had to give his victory speech in front of a man dressed as a giant fish finger (who won 300 votes) pic.twitter.com/ne02yy6e0n

— David Byers (@davidbyers26) June 9, 2017

Understandably, a lot of people who don’t live in the U.K. were confused.

Just as I was starting fell like I might be able to understand the basics of the UK election, I saw something about a Lord Buckethead.

— matt blaze (@mattblaze) June 9, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.