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

[Darker]

Count down to Bin Day!

Count Binface has been out bigging-up Clacton and drawing attention to its potential.

It’s a really positive campaign.

I don’t think he’ll win but I’d love it if he did. I think he’d be brilliant.

And if he doesn’t, I think other candidates could learn a lot from his approach.

Pose a serious question and I'll answer you.

What constitutes a "somebody"? Surely this distinction runs contrary to what Mr Farage, a self-professed "man of the people" running in a by election he's explicitly stated is about the people v the establishment is, at core, all about.

I mean, either the candidates represented the establishment or they were "nobodies" - which?

In fact I think we could say, "the decision not to attend the Count was entirely pre-meditated".

Oh ok.
What damage was caused to Mr Farage's house, what type of device was used to cause this damage, was he in residence at the time and was there a credible threat to his safety?

No need for that.

I can't answer your question as I haven't seen the manifestos of all the candidates, so don't know what they stand for.
I'm not sure how Count Binface stands as he doesn't seem to have any wheels.

You wanted to spend time in a bin !

1. Fire damage/burns, smoke damage
2. An incendiary device that was burning
3. No.
4. Undetermined because the police never investigated it. (They have now decided to investigate further)

Being stuck in a lift with a man dressed as a bin, who has a sense of humour and isn't Nigel Farage
v
Being stuck in a lift with an angry, graceless man who casually dismisses people who have put a lot into an election that he invoked as 'nobodies'.

No contest

Yes. As the facts stand, an incendiary device was pushed through the letterbox of Mr Farage's home. He was away at the time and the device burned itself out in the porch.

I'm not suggesting that's not a serious matter. We have to ask, however, why you are exaggerating so strongly. Claiming Farage's house was "fire bombed" is not only untrue, it's incredibly emotive. What reaction are you attempting to elicit and to what ends? These are interesting questions.

We're not talking about manifestos. We're discussing the binaries that Mr Farage has himself introduced between nobodies/some bodies and the establishment/the people. There seems to be contradictions in his rhetoric - what do you think this suggests?

Amongst the far right elements, comedy candidates, single issue and frankly eccentric, there were a few local people standing as independents who seemed serious about representing their town. You calling them 'nobodies' says a good deal about you, as it does Farage.

Also, decent politicians are aware they represent their whole constituency, not just the people who voted for them.

There is no reason to believe that the police would not have been taking Farage's security extremely seriously given the recent horrific murder of Ann Widdecombe.

Appearing at a pop-up festival would have posed a greater risk, I would think, for someone so concerned.

And its insulting to the constituents that he doesn't give surgeries because of the 'security risk', yet he lays this on for his supporters.

I think you get to a point where you're almost saturated with the awfulness of Farage, his hypocrisy, his grifting, his dishonesty, his divisive and hateful rhetoric. And then it's interesting to ask why he invokes such undying loyalty in some, why people are prepared not just to defend him but to endlessly promote him when, to so many, he's utterly unjustifiable.

I'm not sure we'll ever get an answer but in some ways, the fact that he achieves such polarity works in the favour of the 70 odd per cent who don't want hard right populist government because I've never in my life seen tactical voting used to such effect. People who don't like him and his company/"party" really don't like them.

I am sure Led By Donkeys and others have saved down his stupid comment about nobodies for future use. It will be replayed again and again the next time Farage is up for election.

Though I'm wondering if Farage can really be bothered with being an MP.

Except the people up thread who did. And the others who keep saying things like - after what happened to Anne Widdecombe it’s disgraceful that Farage’s security isn’t being taken seriously. Including representatives from his own party. (Who are ignoring the fact that his security has been taken as seriously as the leaders of all the other parties)

Same could be said for Trump.

I think that there are many people who simply feel that the main political parties are not representing them, and look to Nige because he gives the impression that he understands them and has the will and the capability to 'do something about it'.

The remainer/lefty camp (which includes me) often make the mistake of treating people who don't agree with them as stupid or uninformed or 'ist'.

I did wonder whether he was keen to lose. He could have cut out three years of the boring work of pretending to represent his constituents and then made a stellar comeback near the time of the next election.

I've heard rumours he's not all that well, that his helicopter crash left lasting health problems and he's struggling. I'm also unconvinced that he wants to be a politician; he was happy being a disruptor and coining it in from the sidelines. Whatever he was hoping to achieve from this by election seems to have misfired for him.

I think he’s between a rock and a hard place. I don’t think he wants to be an MP, he can’t get away with the lack of scrutiny and bone idleness he got away with as an MEP. He’s too exposed. But if he’s not an MP Reform’s a spent force because none of his potential successors could begin to inspire the same popularity. Tice, Jenrick and Yusuf are so unlikeable. As for Anderson …

The police didn't take the attack on Farage's home seriously at first.

If you have an issue with what people up thread said, maybe take it up with them - they are nothing to do with me.

What makes you think people want to know what you think about Reform ?

Wow.

It's a fair question.

It's incredibly rude.

So this is where we’re at with Reform voters. How dare you express an opinion on them on a relevant thread on a public forum? Thanks @MyKittyKatty, you’ve inadvertently told me a lot.