The Reform UK leader Nigel Farage announced the political stunt last month amid a Commons probe over a £5million gift received from a Thai-based crypto billionaire
Voters have condemned the Clacton by-election called by Nigel Farage amid scrutiny of his finances for “distracting” from the real issues facing the area.
The Reform UK leader announced the political stunt last month amid a Commons probe over a £5million gift received from a Thai-based crypto billionaire.
He is now facing comedy candidates including Count Binface in next week’s vote after major political rivals boycotted the contest.
Speaking to residents in the seaside town, the Mirror found support for Mr Farage, but also anger over a contest with 34 candidates that may cost taxpayers quarter of a million pounds.
Multiple people branded the race a “circus”, while others declined to be interviewed, with one explaining the words they would use to describe the by-election simply could not appear in a newspaper.
Karen Creavin 57, Chief Executive at an anti-poverty charity, welcomed the prospect of more people in the area, but claimed the former city banker had forced the by-election for the wrong reasons.
She said: “There is huge opportunity for people to come and see the place, and see what’s wrong with it, but it’s also felt like a bit of a circus, and a distraction from the things that need resolving.
“The time and the money would be better spent on the really important social issues here, rather than parodying around with a by-election that isn’t necessary.
“I think that money would be better spent on tackling the really important issues here like poverty, like access to jobs, like care needs. Jaywick is the poorest area in the whole country, and the fact money has been wasted on a unnecessary by-election is frankly virtually criminal.”
Multiple people pointed to the example of Jaywick, the most deprived neighbourhood in England. Locals talked of extreme poverty, wooden houses, and areas that are such a flood risk they’ll never land investment.
Asked who was more trustworthy out of Count Binface and Mr Farage, Ms Creavin branded it “sad” those were the options. She said: “I don’t think Nigel Farage is trustworthy. The leaflets I’ve had through the door are factually untrue. This isn’t about anything other than evading an investigation.”
The issue of housing was also important to former mental health worker Mark Grocott, 67, who said he had two years to live due to cancer, along with his partner Tammie Lloyd-Smith, 52, who has a brain tumour.
Ms Lloyd-Smith, who is backing Reform, said: “We were homeless for a year, with cancer and a brain tumour, in a caravan on our daughters drive. We were top of the list for housing, nine months we did.
“They offered him a place, but he’d have to stay on his own, dying of cancer, with no visitors.”
Martin Suker, who previously stood as a local council candidate for Labour in 2023, was also unhappy with the by-election.
The 33-year-old photographer said: “The biggest thing is seeing Farage in the constituency for the first time in a long time.
“A friend of a friend who’s a postie said they are really struggling to get all this political communication out, because there’s so many candidates.
“I commend the other parties for not getting involved. I think it’s a good thing they didn’t, it’s delegitimised what Farage wants to do.
“This investigation trumps any by-election result anyway. It’s probably going to happen again, it’s a waste of money, it’s a waste of time, and it’s a waste of leaflets, as they’re all going to go in the recycling bin anyway.”
Mr Farage won the seat from Tory Giles Watling in 2024, with a majority of 8,405. Labour won just 7,448 votes in the contest.
Voters could face a second by-election in the seat down the line if the parliamentary commissioner for standards finds Mr Farage breached the rules and is handed a suspension of over 10 days from the Commons.
On a visit where multiple news organisations were seen across the constituency, there was also fury from a local candidate who felt abandoned at the focus on Mr Farage and Count Binface.
Gerry Smith, who grew up in care and owns theatre groups, wants to “restore pride” in Clacton.
The 58-year-old said: “I think that the two campaigners have had a great deal of attention, and the rest of us have basically been ignored. The reason I am standing is I was watching Newsight and I saw Count Binface on and I thought that was absolutely appalling.”
Anger at the main parties not running came up with some voters, while others were either annoyed about Count Binface or had just not heard of him.
James Hooker, 33, who works for a local mental health charity, declined to say who he was backing.
He said: “I’ve stayed out of the circus because let’s be honest, all political life is nothing but a circus.
“I hear friends and family talking about it. I try and stay in the middle, because when it comes to Nigel Farage, I know people who absolutely love him or absolutely hate him, and I don’t want to fall into either category.”
Asked about his thought on Count Binface, he said he was “not impressed”. He added: “It’s not a very good look on the established parties putting their unofficial support behind a guy dressed as a bin.”
However, not everyone was unhappy with Mr Farage’s attempts to distract from the scandals around his funding.
Retired Terry Wisbey, 74, backed Reform to win the next election, and claimed it was “time for a change”.
He said: “I believe Nigel Farage is going to be the next Prime Minister. It’s the least of the evils. I don’t trust the Conservatives or Labour anymore.
“I quite trusted Maggie Thatcher back in the day, but since then it’s been blame the party before you.”