So, my postal vote arrived for the Clacton by-election...

[Username19893847477374]

It will take a moment to be visible I imagine, but there are over 30 candidates standing. Many not seriously, as we know. What a farce.

The Clacton by election isn't happening in a vacuum.
What happens to Reform is highly important to the political landscape and the prospects of the other parties. So it's understandable people are looking a few steps ahead and considering what it might mean for other parties they either support or fear.
Politically now the chances of Reform achieving a majority are slim to none, I'm reasonably happy to see them hanging around spliting the right wing vote. Because I know whatever happens we will be looking at a Labour led government for the foreseeable, albeit maybe as a progressive alliance.
On the other hand, they are such a toxic force in politics and their messaging is so divisive and harmful, I can't help but wish total humiliation on Farage at this point.

The alternatives being

• actually talk about what he will do for Clacton
• acknowledge that his main rival is a comedian dressed up as a refuse container

It would be pretty stupid for Farage to split his own vote if there is a chance Count Binface gets any traction.

So the party consists of many ex Tories that fell short when they were last in power - not a great advert at all. They contributed to the mess that the country finds itself in over a 14 year period, now they want more ime but under a self serving idiot.

If anyone can find his 2024 leaflet, we could see how much he can claim to have achieved.

I'm not saying it's been scrubbed from t'internet. But a casual trawl can't find it.

He promised to use his profile to attract investment to the seaside town, saying he will make it his “number one goal” for his new constituency according to newspaper articles.

I can find some generic Reform leaflets about stopping the boats and immigration.

We have no evidence that Farage has deployed any intelligence in his decisions thus far.

God knows. I’d never vote Greens now. Nasty little bellend that he is. 🙄

I'll be absolutely delighted if the Count wins.

I'm going to pop a bottle of bubbly in the fridge in case I need to celebrate, although I doubt if I'll be able to stay awake long enough for the results.

Seeing the petulant, sneering gobshite Farage's face if he loses would be something else, although I think it vanishingly unlikely.

Very very valid point.

It's funny that you only need to remove one vowel from Count Binface to create the perfect alternative name for Nigel Farage

Not if you believe there is intelligent design in the universe.

Farage being hard of understanding again..,

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/farage-blasts-burnham-for-not-inviting-him-into-social-care-conversations-gets-reminded-hes-not-an-mp-408240/?fbclid=IwdGRjcATXODpwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6sJuX5wkogkMR9fLuABX8i9qVx_Ucn-0ELTICuWfhNuhY8K0Dh7ZvM1r9PeA_aem_iAHAnNjDG6k_UTJF7oXS4w

He's the reason we have Zach. Get rid of Nigel and his ilk and everything will settle down across the centre again

William Hill offering 8/1.
Paddy Power offering 10/1.

Are you promoting gambling?

Just interested in what is really going on. National opinion polls indicate the people want Count Binface to win, and my social media is full of videos showing Clacton people preparing to boot Farage out, but the bookies are obviously expecting Farage to win.

Your social media will show you what it thinks you want to see. It's not a reliable source.

Farage is likely to win as Clacton is very Brexity (73% voted leave) and Farage is seen as a positive by Brexiteers. It's why he chose Clacton. The cynical arsehole that he is

Brilliant. Shows what an entitled idiot he is:

But it seems Farage has forgotten a crucial detail that would explain why he wasn’t invited to these talks – he’s not an MP.

I'm really disappointed so many have stood. I wish it was just Farage Vs Binface. Having so many candidates is just going to split the vote and allow Farage back in.

Your social media will show you what it thinks you want to see. It's not a reliable source.

I do know that…. 🙄. It’s why I’m looking in other places.

With two weeks ti go. I’d be interested in what @Username19893847477374 and other Clacton resident are seeing and hearing ‘on the ground’.

Do you think people are going to turn out to vote? What’s the mood?

Hopefully the anti-Farage voters in Clacton realise that and vote Binface. You never know.

Is that a problem ? Promoting something legal ?

National opinion polls won't reflect the demographic of an individual constituency, and the videos on your social media are skewed by algorithms and aren't even remotely reflective of the actual prevailing voting patterns of Clacton.

The reason the bookies are expecting Farage to win is because he almost certainly will. They'll be looking at data that's actually specific to the constituency and which is mostly like to reflect the views of the people who will actually be voting rather than a nationwide sample of people who aren't actually Clacton voters.

If Farage and Binface were the only two candidates, Binface might stand more of a chance (although would probably still be less likely to win than Farage) but with dozens of other also-rans on the ballot, that drastically reduces the chances of a win for anyone other than Farage.