‘A waste of taxpayers’ money’: What Clacton voters really think of Farage’s election win

While Nigel Farage boasted about his “overwhelming” win in the Clacton by-election, locals on the Union Jack-adorned Pier Avenue, where residents are out by the sea making the most of the hot weather, have mixed views. There is a palpable frustration and exasperation with politicians in general – and with the media scrutiny that has hit the seaside constituency since Reform UK leader Farage stood down and triggered a by-election. Occupants of a car driving down a street adjacent to Pier Avenue shout “Reform UK” as they spot journalists interviewing locals. ‘This is England – it’s how it should stay’ Sitting on a bench as seagulls squawk around her, Farage supporter Jane Smith tells The i Paper she cast her ballot for him because “he’s trying to get people out who shouldn’t be here”. Shorts “This is England and that’s how it should stay. We shouldn’t have people coming into our country and getting all the benefits. “A lot of people are for Farage,” she said. “Because he’s going to his best to get the immigrants out.”But the divisive issue of immigration is what has turned others off from Farage. Nicola Lott, 51, from Frinton, abstained from voting in the by-election – but on reflection wishes she had spoiled her ballot. “I’ve got no confidence in anyone and I should have probably spoilt my vote yesterday,” she said. “I agree with some of the stuff he says, but not everything, and that is why I didn’t vote; I couldn’t get behind that.” ‘There are better ways to spend that money’ Lott, who works in recruitment for a care company, is positive about immigration and says “we wouldn’t have an NHS” without it. “I work for a care company. I sponsor lots of people, and I love them dearly, and I want them here. And we need more of them, not less.” She says “not happy” about the cost of the by-election either, which she thinks was a waste of money. Nicola Lott, 51, from Frinton, abstained from voting in the by-election but now wishes she had spoiled her ballot (Photo: Celine Marshall/The i Paper) “There are areas of deprivation around here; there’s lots of juxtapositions. Like I said, I live near Frinton; if you look there as opposed to somewhere maybe like Jaywick, there are areas of deprivation. “I’ve just walked past a doorway with a bed in it, where people have been sleeping rough,” she said. “There’s a lot that can be done with that money locally.” Speaking at a rally overnight before the result was declared, Farage said he had pulled off a “convincing, overwhelming win” in the by-election. “Today the voters in Clacton have stuck two fingers up at the entire political establishment,” Farage said. Dan Casey, 87, an independent district councillor for Jaywick Sands, said the by-election cost in excess of £300,000. The Tendring District councillor said: “Basically [that is] what us [the taxpayers] have had to pay because he wants to get their vote. I know [Farage] got an extra thousand votes, but lots of people didn’t vote because they just thought it was a total farce.” Tendring District councillor Dan Casey said the by-election cost in excess of £300,000 (Photo: Celine Marshall/The i Paper) Despite his dissatisfaction, he voted for Count Binface. “I always vote and I think it’s right to vote. [But] I voted for somebody with a tin on their head.” He was also critical of Farage not attending the count. “I’ve never ever known anybody not to turn up to the count. It’s his election, he called it, and he doesn’t even turn up for the count.” Binface ‘just getting started’ Count Binface has said he was “the winning candidate of the candidates who bothered to turn up for the results”. Farage did not attend the count, claiming Essex Police informed him of “an organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result”. Essex police did not deny the warning, but The i Paper understands the force did not advise any candidate not to attend. Count Binface said he was “over the moon. I’m over your moon. I’m over many moons”. He added: “Over one in four people in this constituency would rather have Count Binface as their MP than the leader of Reform UK, and I’m just getting started.” Meanwhile, Farage’s victory means that Parliament’s standards watchdog has reopened its investigation over an undeclared £5m gift the Reform leader received before the 2024 general election. Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson told Sky News that Farage has “no hiding place now”.