Clacton by-election

Yes - because this time round, it's a genuine comment on a charade.

AGAA4

A BBC reporter has spoken to the people of Clacton. Some say it a good move by Farage. Others say they can't be bothered voting again and some are disappointed that they can't vote for someone else.
All said nothing has changed in Clacton since Farage became their PM. As he pays them no attention that is hardly surprising.

Let’s hope that all those who were disappointed that they wouldn’t be able to vote for anyone else, will now vote for Count Binface!

Maybee. The address the Sky reporter visited is listed as Farage’s address in Companies House records and on the electoral register. Easy to find. And looking at the property, easy to erect some locked gates if he’s that bothered about security. It wouldn’t make much of a dent in £5 million.

Manufactured outrage on his part because he needed an excuse to resign and start this by-election charade.

the government could have blocked this by-election, they chose not to. In my opinion they are aiding and abetting this circus.

It isn’t a government decision. It is a decision for all MPs. There’s a process. The “resigning” MP applies to the Chancellor who makes them an unpaid steward - in this case Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.

The last time an MP’s application was refused was Viscount Chelsea in 1842.

Then the chief whip for the party of the resigning MP moves a writ to ask for a by-election. Lee Anderson did that this morning. The Speaker put it to a vote and the Ayes had it. I couldn’t see who said what as the camera was on the Speaker but there were not many MPs present, maybe 50 or so. It sounded like the loudest Ayes came from the bench where Reform sit. Anderson was with Tice and Pochin.

Primrose53

Primrose53

NF has been the most scrutinised, investigated person in Politics ever and nothing has ever stuck. I actually believe he has done nothing wrong. He is too smart to lie about this on national TV. In his statement I thought he explained himself very well and, to me, it made sense.

There is a Labour MP on TV talking about this just now and she is running him down and accusing him of stuff she cannot possibly know whether it’s true or not. They’re all spouting the same old lines “political stunt”. It’s nothing of the sort. If they thought they stood a chance at Clacton against NF they would be standing, no doubt about that.

Starmer the other day was all puffed up and spitting out the words that NF was wrapped up in sleaze. This is the man who has been forced to resign because of the sleaze he is involved with!

NF Also said he did not claim MP expenses.

He complained about his daughter’s house being shown by Sky News. But he himself showed him standing in front of it for a publicity photo. And he said he protects his family from publicity but was happy for them to be shown on tv when he did I’m a Celebrity. Listening to Farages speeches they all make sense, because he’s such a good talker. It’s only afterwards when you think about it you realise he’s just a con man.

So Dale Vince can fund Count Binman but has pulled the rug on Forest Green Rover’s Women. Nice to know his priorities.

GrannyGravy13

MaizieD the government could have blocked this by-election, they chose not to.

In my opinion they are aiding and abetting this circus

They absolutely are, and deliberately so. I think they played a clever hand on this one. They waited until the other parties had declared they weren’t going to stand, in the knowledge that it would subvert Farage’s ruse to get the upper hand and then said it could go ahead so he couldn’t say he wasn’t allowed to appeal to the voters in his constituency.

Parliament could have blocked the by-election but it would be rare to do so unless a General Election is imminent in which case they can decide to leave a seat vacant.

Had they blocked so he would have whined that the “establishment” were stopping him when truth is he is very much part of the establishment.

As it was, the writ was moved today and the Speaker dealt with it with minimum fuss so the business of the House could continue.

You can watch it here. First business of the day.

www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/0a378fe5-0a46-4985-b945-4618db6cb14d

Political parties have a choice whether to run candidates in elections. All the main parties see this stunt for the sham it is and that it will all have to be done again anyway if he’s re-elected suspended and recalled. Why waste time, money and effort to satisfy his narcissistic strop?

There’s only a week to go before Parliament goes into summer recess anyway. I haven’t seen a date for the by-election yet but the timescale is usually 25-27 working days from the writ so it could happened by the end of August.

By the time Parliament returns it could all be done and dusted and the Standards people can resume their investigations.

Of course he claims expenses. All MPs do. He has claimed over £160,000 since he was elected. It's a matter of public record and easy to check. In fact he has claimed more than my MP who was also newly elected in July 2024.

PS Primrose It’s so clearly a theatrical political stunt. He had so many other choices:-

1. Keep a dignified silence, as anyone totally “innocent” would do, whilst being investigated.

2. Issue his statement and not resign.

3. Issue his statement and resign, and stayed resigned.

Instead, he’s resigned, triggered a by-election, and is standing in the exact same seat he already had. Why on earth would the other established parties stand against him? It’s a complete waste of their time, Farage won last time, it’s the same constituency, with all the same people, and he’ll win again. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Meanwhile, behind the scenes the Erica committee will continue the investigation, if he’s don’t nothing wrong, he has nothing to fear? But the rules are very very clear, all gifts/ donations in the 12 months prior to being elected as an MP have to be declared. It appears Farage forgot to declare. It’ll be easy, either the rules were broken, or they were not.

This whole ridiculous fiasco reminds me so much of the ludicrous Cummings Rose Garden Speech and Barnard Castle.

Primrose53 You’re entitled to your views and to express them.

I’m afraid I simply don’t agree with you.

Primrose53

NF has been the most scrutinised, investigated person in Politics ever and nothing has ever stuck. I actually believe he has done nothing wrong. He is too smart to lie about this on national TV. In his statement I thought he explained himself very well and, to me, it made sense.

There is a Labour MP on TV talking about this just now and she is running him down and accusing him of stuff she cannot possibly know whether it’s true or not. They’re all spouting the same old lines “political stunt”. It’s nothing of the sort. If they thought they stood a chance at Clacton against NF they would be standing, no doubt about that.

Starmer the other day was all puffed up and spitting out the words that NF was wrapped up in sleaze. This is the man who has been forced to resign because of the sleaze he is involved with!

NF Also said he did not claim MP expenses.

😆 My addling brain is now switched into France V Maroc. I think its a foregone conclusion, but like in politics, you never know!

Heat! Heat nor hear! Grrrr

MartavTaurus 20:57 Ooops sorry, hear addling my already addled brain!

MazieD ??

GrannyGravy13

MaizieD the government could have blocked this by-election, they chose not to.

In my opinion they are aiding and abetting this circus

Really? Can you even begin to imagine the outrage this would have released from Reform supporters, Reform MPs and Farage himself?

They (govt) were damned if they do, damned if they don’t!

MaizieD

^So what are they going to campaign on? ^

Well, Graphite. Judging from the las t few days I think that Farage is going to campaign on how the establishment is scheming to get rid of him because he sticks up for the little people and tells it how it is. He is the only person who can save them from the evils the establishment has inflicted on them.

What is more, they are all cowards who daren't fight him for the seat because they know he will win it with an overwhelming majority and it will humiliate them.

That the Parliamentary investigation into whether or not he broke Parliamentary rules is a kangaroo court and the Select Committee for Standards which will decide on what to do with the Commissioner's report is made up of people who hate him so they will set out to punish him even though he has done nothing wrong and making money isn't a crime...

That's for starters, Perhaps others can add to it...

.

In my opinion, I think you’re bang on!

Yes, his campaign will be based on his recent (nauseating) speech, in which he claims, with a very sad face, that he is the most maligned and “picked on” MP, in the whole wide world, and it’s all because he’s “anti-establishment” and the “establishment” hate him and the media hound him, all because he’s making money.

All I can say is 🤬🤬🤬🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮 or I’d be banned from Gransnet for the rest of my life!

MaizieD the government could have blocked this by-election, they chose not to.

In my opinion they are aiding and abetting this circus

Cossy

MartavTaurus

he sticks up for the little people
Surely we're all little people, just ordinary citizens with no power? We're all the little people impacted by political forces.

Does he? In his speeches maybe, but what does he actually do for the “so called little people” (I assume you’re not referring to leprechauns, pixies, elves or dwarves?)

Don't ask me. The quote was MaizieD's.

MartavTaurus

^he sticks up for the little people^
Surely we're all little people, just ordinary citizens with no power? We're all the little people impacted by political forces.

Does he? In his speeches maybe, but what does he actually do for the “so called little people” (I assume you’re not referring to leprechauns, pixies, elves or dwarves?)

Casdon

There is also something about the regions in the South East coastal counties of England voting right, more so than the rest of the UK. Jaywick is the most deprived electoral ward in the UK, but as a comparison, seven of the top ten deprivation areas in England are in Blackpool - which has two Labour MPs. It would be good to have more insight into why that is the case.

I think it’s historic, in our two constituencies in my part of Essex, Tories ruled the roost for decades and decades, very traditionally right wing.

Now we have two Labour MPs, both men of colour. Some of the harder line right wingers were apoplectic.

Both MPs getting in was a shock, even for those of us who voted for them, however both canvassed tirelessly, both knocked on every door in their own wards, both send out newsletters monthly (if you sign up of course), both run surgeries, attend local events and regularly vote in the HoC.

I think within much of Essex we have a large amount of pensioners, some very affluent areas, some real pockets of deprivation and everything in between.

We also still have state maintained Grammar Schools, 8 I believe, 4 girls, 4 boys and a big selection of independent schools. We are also very close commuting wise to the City of London and lots of worked in the square mile back in the day.

No idea why we were/are traditionally Tory.

he sticks up for the little people
Surely we're all little people, just ordinary citizens with no power? We're all the little people impacted by political forces.

GrannyGravy13

MaizieD

GrannyGravy13

Galaxy

I wish the the people not in Clacton would think for one second why people might look elsewhere for political answers.

I agree, I am really uncomfortable with what is basically maligning of the electorate of Tendring.

I'm sorry?

Who is maligning the electorate of Tendring? Do quote...

An who is subjecting them to a totally unnecessary by-election which, in my book, points to him cynically using them for his own ends?

We know that Jaywick is in his constituency, it is one of the poorest in England.

Graphite has posted regarding his constituency being in the top 20% of deprivation (health and education)

They have elected Conservatives and now Reform, their choice, their X on the ballot paper.

I am a uncomfortable with the veiled assertions that they do not know what they are voting for, along with posters on here assuming that they know what Tendring Electorate need and want…

I am not a Reform supporter by the way, but I wouldn’t dream of telling someone else how they should vote.

You have sidestepped my point about the necessity of the by-election and their MP using them.

Most posters seem more concerned about the voters being taken for a ride by their ex MP than with maligning the poor souls.

So what are they going to campaign on?

Well, Graphite. Judging from the las t few days I think that Farage is going to campaign on how the establishment is scheming to get rid of him because he sticks up for the little people and tells it how it is. He is the only person who can save them from the evils the establishment has inflicted on them.

What is more, they are all cowards who daren't fight him for the seat because they know he will win it with an overwhelming majority and it will humiliate them.

That the Parliamentary investigation into whether or not he broke Parliamentary rules is a kangaroo court and the Select Committee for Standards which will decide on what to do with the Commissioner's report is made up of people who hate him so they will set out to punish him even though he has done nothing wrong and making money isn't a crime...

That's for starters, Perhaps others can add to it...

.

Graphite

Cossy. Giles Watling has said he is willing to stand again so when this current charade is over and assuming Farage is eventually suspended and subject to a recall, Clacton may, once again, get an MP who gives a damn.

That would be fab, but he is 74 now, so does deserve a break! He is a good man though by all accounts