To think Count Binface is doing a great job in the Clacton by-election?

@AprilMizzel There is a long history of joke candiates in our system - they often raise important points or channel frustrations and Binface has stood in many major elections in recent years so hardly a surpise he would stand here.

I agree with you, but the history of joke candidates is of them standing alongside candidates from mainstream parties. Which is why I think what has happened in Clacton was wrong, and tbh an insult to the people living in the constituency, who deserved to have a proper choice to make.

You've established nothing. Mostly because your tone doesn't lend itself to polite conversation.

I think any decent person would feel the same.

Farage called the by-election no one made him do that.

Farage did it becuase he wrongly belived he could escape parlimentary inspection into his actions - this was never true.

The main poltical parties all saw it for the stunt it was - there is form for this refusing to engage it's happened at least once before.

There is a long history of joke candiates in our system - they often raise important points or channel frustrations and Binface has stood in many major elections in recent years so hardly a surpise he would stand here.

I think entire situation was entirely predicatable from moment Farage declared he was resigning and I don't think it say much about his poltical ablities he didn't forsee it when everyone else did.

Just before you enjoy your day, let me point out that I wasn't disputing your use of statistics (although another poster did actually point out that you'd got it wrong). I was talking about your false rhetoric and your confused style of presenting your opinion as fact. I don't need to be drawn into it; that would be a fool's errand because you present no empirical evidence for your wild claims and were I to challenge them, you'd just counter that with even further flights of fantasy. I don't want to indulge that - second hand embarrassment is not my thing. That is why I recommended that you read, research and become informed. Largely to stop you wasting your own time and everyone else's with meaningless slop and enable yourself to enjoy even more of your day. But do have a nice time in all that you do!

So you hold no principles. Gosh, didn't it take a long time to establish that!

I agree.

Which is why I believe the main parties should have put forward proper candidates. I just don't think elections should be turned into national entertainment, it's not fair to the people living in the constituency. I know people think it's all hugely amusing, but it's not how democracy is supposed to work. And this has nothing to do with me being a fan of Farage btw, I absolutely loathe the man.

To be fair the average age of the Clacton constituent is 49-50 with a third being 65+ so their concerns are unlikely to be around childcare or being on "the shop floor". Perhaps the pp is confusing derision with genuine questions as to why a majority of those voters who turned out chose a candidate who doesn't reflect their interests or needs at all? As you rightfully point out, Mr Farage has no interest in the people if Clacton other than three photo opportunities in two years and the potential to advance his career and wealth! And still they're loyal to him?

As i have said previously I'm not standing with any Party but it was obvious from the start Farage called this by-election in order to prove his constituents still wanted him to represent them.

@lollylimejuice he's said he wants to be "judged" by his constituents (I suppose they are useful to him when he wants something) but even if they voted unanimously for him (they didn't of course) and carried him through the streets of Clacton on a golden litter, scattering roses in his path, it has ZERO to do with the legal remit of the Parliamentary Standards Committee or indeed, the investigations of the Metropolitan police.

All he did was waste a load of public money kicking the probe into his finances down the road a few weeks. That is the sum total of his 'achievement'.

I was never sure if the other parties not putting a candidate forward was the right thing to do, at first I did but. I heard a number of voters complain that they felt the byelection had become a laughing matter and this was abotu their lives and I understand how they feel.

It is not a surprise that Farage won, he is popular there the £5 million gift will not bother his true supporter, they will sand by him not matter what. It is those floating supporters that the Tories and Labour have lost/losing to Reform that both parties need to win back and keeping the discussion going about his finances and questionable links needs to continue

You speak of a modicum of intelligence but also claim that the main parties didn't oppose Farage because they thought it "was their one chance to remove him before he became a threat to the establishment.". I sense a disconnect here. How would allowing Mr Farage to run unopposed be the main parties' chance to get rid of him? What is "the establishment"? Why do you think they want to get rid of him? Would his own greed and corruption not ultimately do that job anyway? Mr Farage is going to end with a whimper rather than a bang, I feel, brought down by his own hubris.

I'd be embarassed to vote for Farage too.

Give over!

When someone jumps on to say another poster's facts-all incidentally gleaned from the BBC News website is wrong, thenit is entirely reasonable for the 'accused' to ask what is wrong, how it is wrong and why it is wrong.

You can't do that. Instead you pop back on-twice-to say that you haven't got time to do that.

Now I puzzle. If you know that my facts are wrong and can contradict me-and the BBC-then why not do so with facts from another quoted source?

It's a real head scratcher, is that and an unkind critic would say that you are simply enraged and stamping your foot.

That's understandable.

Although why you have taken it upon yourself-as just another poster-to say I shouldn't post is of course, an example of immaturity.

Also, don't use metaphors that don't make sense.

Calling something a "sea" implies a huge amount. I do find that people generally show their arse and lack of education the more head that they are given, as you have so generously demonstrated.

Enjoy your day! I will.

Why would I be embarrassed about my beliefs and principles? A grown woman doesn't allow herself to feel shamed or embarrassed, so I don't know where you think you're going with this.

Regardless of what any of us think of Farage and his actions, it’s not his fault a man dressed as a bin decided to enter. The responsibility for that and its ridiculousness lies entirely with someone else.

I didn't ask whether you'd be influenced. I asked if there's a party with policies that you'd be ashamed to vote for. Say if the National Front or British National Party made a resurgence or a Keep Women Barefoot and Pregnant Party were to emerge, would you freely and proudly lay claim to voting for them?

What are you actually talking about? It was you who asked if I would be embarrassed to exercise my democratic vote? To which I replied that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to vote but I would be embarrassed if I’d voted for Farage. If that makes you feel inferior that’s up to you. It shouldn’t should it, if he is as you say, the great hope of the nation? As it goes I’ve voted for all four mainstream parties (I include Green) in my time at various level elections. I’ve voted for those that make sense to me, that align with my views, (which have changed over time on some things), that campaign on specific local issues, and that keep others out variously. And yet never once have I ever felt close to voting for Reform.

These sort of word salad, slightly aggressive responses that you keep giving seem typical of, to paraphrase you, ‘the mindset’ of Reform voters when anyone questions them or their leader.
Which is unfortunate as it makes people less likely to be persuaded by you, not more.

Desperate incoherent thrashing around by the poster above me.

Farage removed himself. He resigned.

What "chance to remove him before he became a threat to the establishment"?

Why wasn't he already a "threat to the establishment"? What with his decades' long career as a politician and ACTUAL SEAT IN PARLIAMENT. Which he gave up.

All this thrashing around just sounds panic-stricken...

For someone who is supposedly all about "British values", he seems not to understand the British sense of humour, British eccentricity, nor value British election traditions.

So OP, i like the fact you are a 'Disrupter' showing your hand but in a kid glove.

I posted on Wednesday about the one sided vitriol of mumsnet on this subject.

As i have said previously I'm not standing with any Party but it was obvious from the start Farage called this by-election in order to prove his constituents still wanted him to represent them.

Is it coincidence that all other parties decided as one to not put up candidates? No, it isn’t, they decided jointly that it was their one chance to remove him before he became a threat to the establishment. This is not democratic behaviour.

This has been a stitch up.

As adults with a modicum of intelligence it must be obvious to all of you that the population of this country have every right to vote as they think fit.
While you are all typing away, deriding the constituents of Clacton most of them are on the shop floor wondering what is going to happen next. Which tax will go up, how will they cover the cost of childcare. Who is defending the Realm, what to do about the NHS.

And you, most of you prefer to joke and laugh and become vitriolic.
Count Binface stood for reducing bus fares from £2 to £1.99 and for selling a 99 ice cream for 99p.
The other parties stood back because they are scared.
This is silly, childish behaviour.

For the record I've never voted Reform, I've voted Tory.

Yes, refusing to appear next to other candidates and calling them nobodies wasn't a good look at all.

You wouldn't be voting for him to get to the point of embarrassment, so not sure why you raised it in the first place. Oh yes, I forgot, to try and make other people feel inferior.