CLACTON-ON-SEA, ENGLAND – Many voters in Clacton were not supportive of Nigel Farage’s gamble on Wednesday, July 8, to trigger an election for his own parliamentary seat.
Reuters correspondent Sarah Young reports from Clacton-on-Sea:
“We’re here in Clacton-on-Sea in eastern England. It’s a seaside town where the locals have just found out there’s going to be another election because their MP, Nigel Farage, said yesterday that he was going to resign… and stand again in another local election. And that has created a bit of a farce.”
“I think that was a bit of a cock-up myself,” one local said.
“I just can’t understand at all. He’s put in another by-election to get him back in again,” another added.
“It’s just a waste of time. It’s not really going to achieve anything because all the main political parties aren’t going to go for it,” a third resident commented.
Farage will be the only candidate standing apart from, at the moment, Count Binface – a comedian who often stands in local elections in Britain.
“And I urge everyone, no matter who you support, do go out to vote,” Count Binface said. “Anyone in the UK can not just vote but you can all stand for election no matter whatever your platform, or how idiotic you look. I’m not naming names. Nigel.”
Farage is stepping down because he is being investigated over a £5 million gift he has received from a cryptocurrency billionaire. He says he is being investigated because of who he is, and that he received this gift before he decided to become an MP, and therefore he should not be investigated.
People in Clacton who spoke to Reuters said they are kind of on his side.
“Yeah. This time I might actually vote for him. Because if he’s not broken any rules or it’s just people trying to dig up dirt on him, then, yeah, he’s got a right to complain,” one resident said.
They say he has been upfront about it. And Farage is trying to frame this new local election as a contest between the people, who he represents, and the establishment.
Source: Reuters
