Page 2 | A message to the people of Clacton

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 2026-07-09T17:25:06+00:00

You will win the undying respect and gratitude of the whole nation if you use your votes to kick Farage out and elect Count Binface as your local MP. And I don't think you will regret it. Underneath the silliness, there is an intelligent man with a genuine commitment to democracy. He might be a joker, but I believe he would serve you well if elected. And ^definitely^ better than Farage.

LuckyHazelFox · 11/07/2026 09:57

EasternStandard · 11/07/2026 09:52

I understand the point of Kemi and others but I also feel there’s a democratic deficit for voters in Clacton at the by-election.

If someone very much wants to vote for their party they can’t.

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Good point.

EasternStandard · 11/07/2026 09:52

Ormally · 11/07/2026 09:50

But the alternative figures are those dressed as a bin, and now, a fox (apparently) - to give a voice to wildlife (not the electorate then) - and others who are not from any of the mainstream parties. No, I have not confused a man dressed as a fox with a man that has Fox as a surname but the less typed about him, the better.

The mainstream parties think they have turned their backs on Farage, but they have forced only comedy choices on those 'terrible' people they think 'don't know better', or 'can't see through Nige', or 'do nothing instead of exercising their voting rights', and have turned their backs on them.

How likely do you think it is that Binface can deliver on the manifesto he stands with? How long have people given the major parties before disillusionment recently? Might that give Reform - or Restore? - a red carpet to storm back there in in a year, tops? Or 'Republic of Tendring', where the really...interesting...candidates have free rein?

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I understand the point of Kemi and others but I also feel there’s a democratic deficit for voters in Clacton at the by-election.

If someone very much wants to vote for their party they can’t.

Ormally · 11/07/2026 09:50

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 10/07/2026 23:47

I think perhaps we are talking about different things here.

You seem to be talking about Farage's influence. Nobody is disputing that.

I am talking about whether he actually listens to people and cares about what they say. Not whether he makes them feel listened to. It isn't the same thing.

I don't know who you think is patting themselves on the back for being politically astute. It is hardly rocket science to see that, for all Farage's popularity, his "achievements" have enriched him and a few of his cronies while doing nothing at all to improve the lives of ordinary people.

You seem to think that pointing this out is likely to make people even more committed to voting for Farage. I'm not convinced that people are that stupid.

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But the alternative figures are those dressed as a bin, and now, a fox (apparently) - to give a voice to wildlife (not the electorate then) - and others who are not from any of the mainstream parties. No, I have not confused a man dressed as a fox with a man that has Fox as a surname but the less typed about him, the better.

The mainstream parties think they have turned their backs on Farage, but they have forced only comedy choices on those 'terrible' people they think 'don't know better', or 'can't see through Nige', or 'do nothing instead of exercising their voting rights', and have turned their backs on them.

How likely do you think it is that Binface can deliver on the manifesto he stands with? How long have people given the major parties before disillusionment recently? Might that give Reform - or Restore? - a red carpet to storm back there in in a year, tops? Or 'Republic of Tendring', where the really...interesting...candidates have free rein?

NoWordForFluffy · 11/07/2026 07:47

LuckyHazelFox · 11/07/2026 07:39

Farage needs to hope any ignored constituents have short memories.

And that's the thing, isn't it? This by election comes after 2 years of his constituents having experienced what he's like as an MP.

Does he still have the same appeal to those who voted for him last time? The turn out was below 60% and he got 46% of that vote. That doesn't illustrate that he was amazingly popular to me. And whichever way you look at it, he didn't get the majority share of the vote.

I don't think that it's beyond comprehension that some of those who voted for him last time wouldn't this time, and his share of the votes drops. Low turn out and decreasing popularity could spell trouble for Farage. Which is such a shame! 🤣

LuckyHazelFox · 11/07/2026 07:39

Farage needs to hope any ignored constituents have short memories.

5128gap · 11/07/2026 07:36

Clavinova · 10/07/2026 23:58

Presumably he pays staff to handle the majority of his casework, just like Keir Starmer. How do you know he doesn't talk to constituents by telephone/on zoom?

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If he was doing that, people would have surely said, rather than complaining their emails went ignored?
Generally if you contact your MP your first response is from their caseworker 'on behalf of..' people are often fine with that provided they are acknowledged and helped.
Farage is clearly not even bothering to ensure he has decent caseworkers in place in Clacton if people are being ignored.

Original poster

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 11/07/2026 07:20

Clavinova · 10/07/2026 23:58

Presumably he pays staff to handle the majority of his casework, just like Keir Starmer. How do you know he doesn't talk to constituents by telephone/on zoom?

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Perhaps he does talk to some constituents by telephone or zoom. Perhaps he doesn't. Either way, that isn't a solution for the digitally excluded, though, who typically represent a significant proportion of those who might need help from their MPs.

And yes, he might well have staff that assist with casework. But the people of Clacton elected him and not his caseworkers.

The comparison with Starmer is obviously unreasonable - he is the PM. A more relevant comparison would be the other party leaders. Kemi Badenoch, for example, or Ed Davey. And Farage's efforts don't stack up well.

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RoseOliviaAu · 10/07/2026 23:59

MindThePause · 09/07/2026 18:43

If this heatwave gets even worse cos I’m forced to spend my whole summer not just explaining Count BinFace to Italians, but then having to explain why he’s obliged to remove just the lid in parliament cos he won….. I may actually melt.

Nine attempts to explain it to DH so far today.

So far all I’ve managed to make sense to him is a successful translation of the name.

And I’m not sure it’s helped my case much. He’s still stuck on radical concept of Count Binface not having an ID card at all times.

Easy enough - the UK has a tradition of allowing joke candidates because that’s the core of democracy - that anyone can stand and be potentially the PM with enough support. He represents satire, frustration with politics, and the very British habit of laughing even during elections.

Clavinova · 10/07/2026 23:58

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 10/07/2026 23:49

Taking questions from "business leaders" is not the same as doing surgeries for ordinary constituents with problems. Presumably you are aware that this is usually a big part of being an MP?

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Presumably he pays staff to handle the majority of his casework, just like Keir Starmer. How do you know he doesn't talk to constituents by telephone/on zoom?

Original poster

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 10/07/2026 23:49

Clavinova · 10/07/2026 23:42

He hasn't held so much as one surgery where his constituents could talk to him

Tendring's business community took centre stage at a business surgery hosted by the Gazette.

Clacton MP Nigel Farage took questions from business leaders at the event at the Columbine Centre in Walton, which attracted a diverse range of companies from Clacton, Harwich, Jaywick and surrounding areas.

https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/25777742.clactons-nigel-farage-hosts-business-surgery-gazette/

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Taking questions from "business leaders" is not the same as doing surgeries for ordinary constituents with problems. Presumably you are aware that this is usually a big part of being an MP?

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Original poster

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 10/07/2026 23:47

HRTQueen · 10/07/2026 23:18

What does it matter what I think I have not voted for him

and again telling people that have been fooled or taken in by a con man has got us where exactly…..

all that happens is people pat themselves on the back for being so politically astute and Farage rubs his hands together with glee knowing just how this has plays out

Show quote history

I think perhaps we are talking about different things here.

You seem to be talking about Farage's influence. Nobody is disputing that.

I am talking about whether he actually listens to people and cares about what they say. Not whether he makes them feel listened to. It isn't the same thing.

I don't know who you think is patting themselves on the back for being politically astute. It is hardly rocket science to see that, for all Farage's popularity, his "achievements" have enriched him and a few of his cronies while doing nothing at all to improve the lives of ordinary people.

You seem to think that pointing this out is likely to make people even more committed to voting for Farage. I'm not convinced that people are that stupid.

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Clavinova · 10/07/2026 23:42

Uricon2 · 10/07/2026 22:04

He might have been successful but it is at their expense.

He hasn't held so much as one surgery where his constituents could talk to him. He said he was advised not to for security reasons and the Speaker's office have said this is a lie.

He is a fraud who cares nothing for the people of Clacton.

Edited

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He hasn't held so much as one surgery where his constituents could talk to him

Tendring's business community took centre stage at a business surgery hosted by the Gazette.

Clacton MP Nigel Farage took questions from business leaders at the event at the Columbine Centre in Walton, which attracted a diverse range of companies from Clacton, Harwich, Jaywick and surrounding areas.

https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/25777742.clactons-nigel-farage-hosts-business-surgery-gazette/

Clavinova · 10/07/2026 23:34

PickAChew · 10/07/2026 12:47

How much listening to his constituents has he been doing in the past 2 years?

I remember he was nowhere to be seen after this big fire in Jaywick, for example. You would expect an MP who even vaguely cared to rally around in some way on behalf of their constituents after such a devastating event.
Arson suspect bailed as Jaywick fire leaves families homeless - BBC News https://share.google/xWd8wmXCHJEEEIDRP

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According to the Clacton and Frinton Gazette he visited four days later;

https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/24515844.nigel-farage-visits-scene-jaywick-fire-beach-way/

A few weeks later he filmed a video in conjunction with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service promoting free smoke alarms.

Last year he visited the scene of a fire affecting three businesses in Clacton town centre;
https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/25401070.reform-uk-leader-nigel-farage-visits-scene-clacton-fire/

He supported the relaunch of one of the businesses a few months later. The business owner was clearly very appreciative;

“I don’t think you could ask for anything else, a lot of people like Nigel, and I’m an avid supporter, it’s what the town needs, to have someone like that who cares about the people."
“If the King himself opened up [the store] that would only just about beat it, we are so happy.

https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/25659333.reform-uk-leader-nigel-farage-supports-sofa-shop-fire/

HRTQueen · 10/07/2026 23:18

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 10/07/2026 22:06

Do you think that people believing that he has listened to them is evidence that he has actually listened?

I don't think so. I think it's entirely possible to pretend to listen and care about people - very convincingly in fact - without actually giving a shit.

It isn't about saying that people's experiences are invalid. It's about acknowledging the fact that, sadly, there are con artists who are very good at tricking people.

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What does it matter what I think I have not voted for him

and again telling people that have been fooled or taken in by a con man has got us where exactly…..

all that happens is people pat themselves on the back for being so politically astute and Farage rubs his hands together with glee knowing just how this has plays out

HRTQueen · 10/07/2026 23:11

Uricon2 · 10/07/2026 22:04

He might have been successful but it is at their expense.

He hasn't held so much as one surgery where his constituents could talk to him. He said he was advised not to for security reasons and the Speaker's office have said this is a lie.

He is a fraud who cares nothing for the people of Clacton.

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And how many of his supporters are bothered by this. What will matter is will enough people will vote to keep him out

it is only a few months on from the very successful local elections

has the £5 million gift made enough people view him differently I am not so sure I think the impact of the relentless questioning that irritates him immensely will be his downfall

LivelyGreyShark · 10/07/2026 22:56

you should absolutely tell the people of clacton how to vote...

Clavinova · 10/07/2026 22:51

PickAChew · 10/07/2026 14:16

He campaigned for that on the basis that it would improve people's lives, though. He didn't tell people that leaving the EU would make European travel more difficult, make business harder to conduct with the EU, make products more expensive and harder to obtain, make it harder to control immigration from outside Europe. No, it was all about sovereignty and freedom and money being freed up for the NHS.

Oh, and he had scant regard for rules then, too
Ukip-controlled group 'misspent' €500,000 on Brexit campaign | UK Independence party (Ukip) | The Guardian share.google/6MKwgZ3bNeIX94zOP

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Ukip-controlled group 'misspent' €500,000 on Brexit campaign

Allegedly. There was an update to that report;

Nigel Farage has been handed a victory by the European court of justice, after judges found a political group he fronted had been unfairly treated over a demand to repay EU funds.

The court judged that the bureau of the European parliament failed to guarantee impartiality, because a vice-president of the parliament at the time claimed publicly there had been “fraudulent use of funds” before any official decision had been taken.

The court also rejected the parliament’s claim that the Ukip-dominated Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe (ADDE) had broken EU spending rules by spending public funds on an opinion poll before the 2016 Brexit referendum.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/07/farage-fronted-group-of-meps-unfairly-treated-over-funds-rules-ecj-repay-anti-eu-parties

Farage-fronted group of MEPs unfairly treated over funds, court finds

ECJ ruling on 2016 repayment order seen as a significant PR victory for anti-EU parties

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/07/farage-fronted-group-of-meps-unfairly-treated-over-funds-rules-ecj-repay-anti-eu-parties

HRTQueen · 10/07/2026 22:43

PickAChew · 10/07/2026 20:12

The man lies as he breathes and has the sincerity of a snake. I thought I had made that clear.

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And I have not said anything to disagree with that point

he campaigned to leave the EU that was his goal the I believe irrelevant he wanted the UK out and that’s what happened

Marmalademorning · 10/07/2026 22:41

the80sweregreat · 09/07/2026 18:49

I avoid Clacton now , but I used to take the children when they were little and it wasn’t a bad day out , it has a pier and fish and chips and a big high street. It isn’t posh, but like many places it is struggling and many big stores have left. It could probably do with a lot of money pumping into it, but that won’t happen.
Even less now more is needed for a by election that nobody wants apart from Mr Farage.

Just out of interest, do you think places like Clacton would be safer for kids if Labour or the Greens were in power?

Violinorbanjo · 10/07/2026 22:11

meant: or think like the women who live there

Violinorbanjo · 10/07/2026 22:09

Serenity75 · 09/07/2026 18:32

Like anyone on mumsnet lives in Clacton

LOL, or you think like the women from there 😂

Original poster

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 10/07/2026 22:06

HRTQueen · 10/07/2026 21:48

No I am not

but I do disagree I do believe people do or have felt listened by him, and surely what they feel as their experience is valid and why he has been so successful

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Do you think that people believing that he has listened to them is evidence that he has actually listened?

I don't think so. I think it's entirely possible to pretend to listen and care about people - very convincingly in fact - without actually giving a shit.

It isn't about saying that people's experiences are invalid. It's about acknowledging the fact that, sadly, there are con artists who are very good at tricking people.

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Persephonia1966 · 10/07/2026 22:06

HeHasMyVote · 10/07/2026 21:15

I find it slightly annoying to read the few posts with sneery undertones about Clacton and its residents, especially one saying along the lines of “reap what you sow”

As a reminder, 54% of those who voted did not vote for Farage. And I’d imagine a large number of those who did are bloody disillusioned and fed up of how everyday life can be for some of them. Farage has a clever way with words, a lot of people aren’t politically savvy, etc etc.

I live in one of the villages that comes under the Clacton constituency and I love living here. I am seriously considering voting for Count Binface, as opposed to not voting or spoiling my ballot. I’d like to see Farage face a humiliating defeat. I’m more concerned that Essex County Council has fallen to Reform, and am nervous as to how that’s going to impact things in the coming months, I’m predicting fuck up after fuck up tbh.

I know it all seems like a big joke to lots of people, and I agree that it’s quite amusing, but it’s a bit demoralising when some people make snap judgements about a place and the people who live there.

I heard people say that about the UK as a whole and Brexit. Also, I know people that voted for Brexit and who thought for a long time Garage was a breath of fresh air (not in his constituency though) and I don't particularly wish ill on them or people with their political views. Likewise people who didn't vote for Farage but are stuck with him.

However, while I don't find the situation the people of Clacton are an funny, I do find the situation Nigel Farage has created for himself absolutely hilarious. All the more so for it being completely self inflicted. I hope that no-one mistakes my joy that he now gets to spend the summer arguing with a bin as laughing at ordinary voters in Clacton.

Uricon2 · 10/07/2026 22:04

HRTQueen · 10/07/2026 21:48

No I am not

but I do disagree I do believe people do or have felt listened by him, and surely what they feel as their experience is valid and why he has been so successful

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He might have been successful but it is at their expense.

He hasn't held so much as one surgery where his constituents could talk to him. He said he was advised not to for security reasons and the Speaker's office have said this is a lie.

He is a fraud who cares nothing for the people of Clacton.

Original poster

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 10/07/2026 21:58

HeHasMyVote · 10/07/2026 21:15

I find it slightly annoying to read the few posts with sneery undertones about Clacton and its residents, especially one saying along the lines of “reap what you sow”

As a reminder, 54% of those who voted did not vote for Farage. And I’d imagine a large number of those who did are bloody disillusioned and fed up of how everyday life can be for some of them. Farage has a clever way with words, a lot of people aren’t politically savvy, etc etc.

I live in one of the villages that comes under the Clacton constituency and I love living here. I am seriously considering voting for Count Binface, as opposed to not voting or spoiling my ballot. I’d like to see Farage face a humiliating defeat. I’m more concerned that Essex County Council has fallen to Reform, and am nervous as to how that’s going to impact things in the coming months, I’m predicting fuck up after fuck up tbh.

I know it all seems like a big joke to lots of people, and I agree that it’s quite amusing, but it’s a bit demoralising when some people make snap judgements about a place and the people who live there.

It's easy for those of us who don't live in Clacton to find it amusing. It really can't be good to look at the dreadful list of candidates that have emerged as potential representatives for the local people though - they deserve better, however they may have voted previously.

I do genuinely believe that Binface would turn out to be a decent constituency MP if he was elected. Perhaps better than most, in fact, because he could focus on constituents and not on wider party politics.

Sympathies with regard to your Reform council. Our has been led by Reform for over a year now. It has been a shit show. I hope that yours turns out to be less chaotic.

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