Download the PDF (26 Mbyte) of I'm Standing, the account of my candidacy at the 2019 General Election in the Prime Minister's constituency
Even though barred from elections and the 2016 referendum, electoral law does allow me to stand. So I am standing in the Prime Minister’s constituency to highlight the injustice of not having a voice. This is in the long tradition of non-party candidates challenging the serving Prime Minister on more or less serious themes. Along with the Interplanetary Time Lords and their ilk, fellow candidates in Uxbridge & South Ruislip include a woman from Dublin (yes, the Irish can stand!) who is mocking the foibles of the English in general and Boris Johnson in particular, and a Muppet promoting father’s rights and concerned over the prevalence of male suicide.
My platform also highlights the plight of perhaps 2½ million foreign nationals permanently resident in the UK who can’t vote either, yet pay taxes and contribute to society just like everyone else. Finally, I think of 1½ million 16 & 17 year olds. Votes for these emerging adults are clearly on the horizon. They already vote in Scottish and Crown Dependency elections, and are about to in Wales. It is Liberal Democrat, Green, SNP, Alliance and Labour policy to enfranchise them fully.
All of we excluded 7 million have vital interests in Brexit and the UK. Referendums and elections without us simply aren’t legitimate. Like the suffragettes before us, we deserve a say in our lives.
Whether to Brexit or not is the over-riding issue in this election, so I don’t want anyone to vote for me. Zero would be my perfect score (and would gain me a place in the Guinness Book of Records!) Rather, I ask electors throughout the realm to press candidates to pledge to right this electoral injustice. I also ask them to cherish their vote, and on December 12 to cast it mindful of us voiceless 7 million and our future.
Photo of the candidate. Another, and another. Campaigning at Speakers' Corner, Hyde Park.
Cartoon by Nono about two of the candidates in Uxbridge & South Ruislip
Poster to print and display yourself (A4)
Campaign flyer in French (A4)
Announcing the result, 4 am Dec 13. Two photos by Monique Hawkins. Mr Johnson satisfied, worried (Tobin in suffragette sash)
Press release, December 15, "Massive Majority" Quips Candidate with 5 Votes
Expenditure and donations full details. Electoral Commission Return of candidate spending, which refers only to the 'regulated period' November 7-December 12
Email: dontvotetobin @ orange.fr (Eliminate spaces, which have been added to fool web crawlers)
Crowdfunder crowdfunder.co.uk/dontvotetobin
The 12 candidates standing in the Uxbridge & South Ruislip constituency
Petition to Parliament in 2016, including discussion of the 7 million statistic
Fair Votes Map indicating which candidates support proportional representation
Can I vote? website for foreign nationals in the UK
Europe Street website reporting the complexities of citizens' rights
Hillingdon & Uxbridge Times, Jan 16, Uxbridge man gains fewest election votes
The Connexion, January 2020, p4, Thanks for not voting for me
The Connexion, Dec 25, 'Thanks for not voting for me' says Briton in France [paywall]
AP Archive, Dec 17 (from Dec 12), Residents comment in Johnson's marginal constituency [and me too, at the end]
Daily Mail, Dec 14, The Brexmas Election...by Numbers
RT UK, Dec 13 [on-line Dec 16] "The toughest competition of all came from you against Boris Johnson..."
RTL Today, Dec 13, scroll down to 02:02, The battle for Johnson's seat, Lord Buckethead, Count Binface, and a retired professor in Brittany
Le Télégramme, Pays de Vannes, Dec 13 (and on paper, Dec 14), Le Vannetais William Tobin a ferré contre Boris Johnson
La Bretagne en 5 infos par Le Télégramme, Dec 13, Johnson 1, Tobin 0 [4th item]
Evening Standard, Dec 13, The Londoner, SW1A
Daily Telegraph, Dec 13, Friday evening news briefing: Nine surprising facts from the 2019 general election [paywall]
Business Insider, Dec 13, Elmo y un hombre disfrazado de papelera acompañan a Boris Johnson en su victoria electoral: quiénes son y por qué se han presentado a las elecciones británicas
Reuters, Dec 13, Johnson takes centre stage, along with Elmo & Lord Buckethead
Fr2 Journal 13h00, Dec 12, begins at 17m46s C'est une candidature atypique. Also via Twitter and Franceinfo
Reformatorisch Dagblad, Dec 12, In Johnsons district zijn verkiezingen een keus uit twee kwaden
LEO network, Dec 11, Interesting Fact - UK Election
index.hu, Dec 11, Egy 25 éves iráni bevándorló gyözné le Boris Johnsont
dw.com [Deutsche Welle]. Dec 11, Gdje je Boris Johnson?
ikb insider, Dec 9, "Don't vote for me!" Says candidate in General Election
allinfo.space, Dec 9, Dove è Boris Johnson?
dw.com [Deutsche Welle], Dec 9, Where is Boris Johnson? (Taken up by Taiwan News, Dec 10)
dw.com [Deutsche Welle], Dec 7, Wo ist Boris Johnson?
Al Jazeera, Dec 6, UK election: PM absent from event in his constituency [I'm not mentioned but am visible in the background!]
Evening Standard, Dec 5, The Londoner, SW1A
The New European, Dec 5, I'm standing against Boris Johnson - but I don't want any votes
Metro.co.uk, Dec 4, Voters urged to consider millions of EU and British citizens denied General Election say
Hillingdon & Uxbridge Times, Nov 29, Don't vote for me, says Boris Johnson's election rival [note correction in comments]
Ealing Times, Nov 29, Don't vote for me, says Boris Johnson's election rival
SWLondoner, Nov 29, Don't vote for me says Boris Johnson's election 'rival'
This is Local London, Nov 29, Don't vote for me, says Boris Johnson's election rival [note correction in comments]
Le Figaro, Nov 28, Boris Johnson défié dans son fief d'Uxbridge [paywall]
The Connexion, Nov 28, Briton in France stands against PM Boris Johnson [paywall]
Europe Street News, Nov 24, Meet the man living in France who is challenging Boris Johnson in his constituency
Aargauer Zeitung, Nov 24, Lord Eimerkopf und Graf Mülltonnengesicht: Johnson muss sich ausserirdischer Konkurrenz stellen
nau.ch, Nov 24, Boris Johnson muss sich ausserirdischer Konkurrenz stellen
t-online.de, Nov 23, Kuriose Herausforderer: Johnsons Konkurrenz ist "außerirdisch"
n-TV.de, Nov 23, Weltraum-Lords und “Elmo”: Johnson hat kuriose Herausforderer
Westdeutsche Zeitung, Nov 23, Boris Johnson tritt gegen Weltraum-Lords und „Elmo‟ an
Le Télégramme Soir, Nov 21 (and also on paper Nov 22), William Tobin, ce Vannetais qui défie Boris Johnson
Notes from the U.K., Nov 20, News from the fringes of Britain’s election: a midweek bonus post
French Entrée, Nov 19, Brit in Brittany’s Bid Against Boris
Euronews, Nov 17, Boris versus Binface: The barmiest battles in Britain's 'Brexit election'
Fear Free News, Nov 17, Boris versus Binface: las peleas más crueles en la “decisión política del Brexit” de Gran Bretaña
The Connexion, Nov 15, Briton in France stands against Boris Johnson
Revised: 2020 April 20
