Voters in Clacton were offered a smorgasbord of choice on Thursday, although 33 of the dishes on offer were of decidedly minority tastes. Predictably, they re-elected their outgoing MP, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, with a 63 per cent dhare on a turnout of 44 per cent. More surprising was the strong performance (27 per cent) of the runner-up, Count Binface, a parody candidate dressed as an intergalactic rubbish bin.
Farage, who triggered the election after the setting-up of a parliamentary inquiry into an undeclared £5 million gift from a crypto billionaire, claimed the contest was “the people versus the establishment”. When the inquiry reports. he is likely to be forced into a repeat byelection.
The bizarre election was contested by a record 34 candidates, from 12 parties – with the Monster Raving Loony Party fielding three candidates – and independents galore. The mainstream parties were unwilling to participate in what they saw as Farage’s street theatre, although three ex-Tories, including an ex-MEP, put their names forward. Only five of the field were women, while only six registered their home address as Clacton. One who claimed to be an alien apparently still satisfied electoral residency requirements. All but Farage and Binface lost their deposits.
Among the issues raised by candidates were a few concerns about improving Clacton’s amenities, including a suggested “peerage” for its pier, electoral reform, rejoining the EU, ending VAR in football, renaming the town “Eric”, deportation of illegal migrants and withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as help for the elderly, healthcare, housing and deprivation. Trust in public life, the malign role of billionaires in politics, and corruption got mentions.
RM Block
Vindication for Farage? Hardly. If Mark English had won his 800m gold against a field of also-ran spectators instead of world class athletes, a certain scepticism would be justified. But he will probably win again if a further byelection is held later this year.
