Nigel Farage has spoken for the first time since all major political parties dropped out of his by-election, leaving a comedian in a bin as his only prominent rival for his former Clacton-on-Sea constituency.
The Reform UK leader, facing voters after stepping down as an MP, told the BBC: “I’ve done my absolute best to put it on the map in terms of tourism and visits. I know the road getting here is a pain but, actually, when you get here you’ve got great beaches.” He promised to prioritise fixing potholes after complaints some were 20 inches deep, and halt housing developments opposed by locals.
“Farage faces by-election with only Count Binface as rival after major parties drop out.”
“You give me a big vote and we’ll continue our political revolution,” Farage told the locals. “If you don’t do it then I think the establishment will just go on and go on working together in an attempt to crush a genuine chance at political change.”
Clacton-on-Sea is a deprived Essex town facing housing, vandalism, drugs, cuckooing and a rise in county lines violence, coupled with as much as 18 years lower life expectancy than wealthier parts of the county.
Farage is being investigated by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner over whether he should have registered a £5 million gift from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne, which he said was needed to fund the security he required as a result of multiple threats against him. The Reform leader is also facing questions over support provided by convicted criminal George Cottrell after a Sunday Times investigation.
Asked why he did not declare benefits provided by Cottrell, Farage said: “This is utterly spurious. Utterly spurious. I wasn’t in politics. I was a broadcaster and an influencer and he helped me go out into the English Channel when the boats started to come, film that and make it into a public issue.” He described Cottrell as simply a Reform supporter.
Mr Farage told GB News: “It seems that the media and political classes want to paint me out to be like a war criminal, as if everything I’ve ever done is wrong, is bent, is corrupt. I don’t get a chance to properly answer it. I don’t see why I should be judged by them. We’ll ask the people here what they think, and if they give me a big endorsement, that sends a big message to the establishment.”
Actor-turned-musician Laurence Fox announced on Tuesday evening he would be standing against Farage, Count Binface and Adham Alkhatip, who leads the Forward Party. Count Binface, despite memes and public approval, conceded he will probably not win in Clacton, where Mr Farage had a majority of 8,405 and 46.2% of the vote in 2024.