Kemi Badenoch doesn’t really need to speak in public more than once a month and she’ll do ok. In that respect, keeping her head down is proving very effective.

Sniping from the sidelines and criticising everyone clearly has merit. 🙃

Just Farage, Binface and Monster Raving Loonies on the ballot paper please.

13 minutes ago, Bertie said:

Just Farage, Binface and Monster Raving Loonies on the ballot paper please.

That would be VERY funny to be fair

Would the main parties have the balls to do that? If they did, it would really mug him off

Just now, Sweep said:

Would the main parties have the balls to do that? If they did, it would really mug him off

I think they already have

Just now, Sweep said:

Would the main parties have the balls to do that? If they did, it would really mug him off

They have

So it's Nige v Count Bin Face

Binface - such an Establishment figure.

Everyone has pulled the rug from him, it's lovely to see.

The massive dick.

55 minutes ago, Bertie said:

Just Farage, Binface and Monster Raving Loonies on the ballot paper please.

The Three Stooges

Clacton really is the arse end of the country... the best thing about it is a big radio beacon guiding flights in and out of Luton loaded with holiday makers who'd rather not go there anymore. It really is a lost cause, prime for politicians who just want to build their portfolio on fear politics.

All this is just a detraction from the real issue... millions of pounds being trousered by a 21st Century Spiv.

As Ed Davey has said, Farage should pay for the process as all it does is benefit himself , we would all be better off without these self indulgent publicists and get on with structuring our Country to suit the 21st Century

Turns out his bribe had also already been reported to the NCA as well as potentially money laundering, it's all unraveling rather rapidly for the jowly bell end isn't it.

It's no wonder Coutts wouldn't touch him with a 10ft pole, they knew.

1 hour ago, Bertie said:

Just Farage, Binface and Monster Raving Loonies on the ballot paper please.

"So far, four of Farage's likely opponents – Labour, the Conservatives, the Lib Dems and Restore Britain – have all ruled out standing in the by-election, variously describing it as a "circus", a "vanity project" and "a waste of taxpayer's money".

The Green Party has said the decision would be one for the local party but added: "We are a political party - we contest elections."

There is a precedent in these situations for opponents not to put up candidates - and to argue they are not going to endorse what they see as a publicity stunt by taking part." - BBC

18 minutes ago, Dimron said:

Clacton really is the arse end of the country... the best thing about it is a big radio beacon guiding flights in and out of Luton loaded with holiday makers who'd rather not go there anymore. It really is a lost cause, prime for politicians who just want to build their portfolio on fear politics.

All this is just a detraction from the real issue... millions of pounds being trousered by a 21st Century Spiv.

As Ed Davey has said, Farage should pay for the process as all it does is benefit himself , we would all be better off without these self indulgent publicists and get on with structuring our Country to suit the 21st Century

Thats a bit harsh. Its like London telling Bolton its the back of beyond.

Like many places, its struggling, it shouldnt be dismissed like towns up north shouldnt be. They deserve better.

It's not - or shouldnt be - a lost cause like any town that is struggling.

What an example of being hoist by your own petard

1 minute ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

What an example of being hoist by your own petard

He's fucked this up right royally.

19 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

What an example of being hoist by your own petard

I have just read that the last time someone tried this trick it was that idiot David Davis way back in 2008. All the other parties called it out and refused to field a candidate, including UKIP! 🤦‍♂️😁

37 minutes ago, Not in Crawley said:

Thats a bit harsh. Its like London telling Bolton its the back of beyond.

Like many places, its struggling, it shouldnt be dismissed like towns up north shouldnt be. They deserve better.

It's not - or shouldnt be - a lost cause like any town that is struggling.

Clacton like Skeggy has never moved on from the Butlins era... I did some work at Hoseasons there just after covid, it was bloody dire, I don't think I can actually think of Clacton as a "town" such as Bolton.

Holiday makers actually fly directly overhead the place these days to visit more enjoyable locations, like migrating hedonists.

Farage has picked it out as an opportunist, just like how he always pops up on quiet news days when there is a void to fill... Clacton is a void that suits him

That might be but to say its a hopeless case is one of the real problems on the uk

11 minutes ago, Not in Crawley said:

That might be but to say its a hopeless case is one of the real problems on the uk

You might go as far as to say the UK is a hopeless case just going through some sort of macabre death dance

36 minutes ago, Winchester White said:

I have just read that the last time someone tried this trick it was that idiot David Davis way back in 2008. All the other parties called it out and refused to field a candidate, including UKIP! 🤦‍♂️😁

Depends I guess, Davis did this resigned as a Conservative MP and won the by-election (as the Conservative candidate) but there were loads of other candidates but mainly independents although the Greens and National Front stood and (believe it or not) the reigning Miss Great Britain at the time Ms Gemma Garrett standing as the candidate for the rather obviously named, Miss Great Brittan Party (she finished 5th) but the point I am trying to make is that Zac Goldsmith did more or less the same thing more recently in 2016, the only difference being he resigned as a Conservative MP but stood as an independent (the Conservatives did not put up a candidate) but only came second to the Lib Dem candidate.

16 minutes ago, Dimron said:

You might go as far as to say the UK is a hopeless case just going through some sort of macabre death dance

I don't - and none of should - accept that.

We are much better. Today has shown that with Reform's disgrace

3 minutes ago, Sluffy said:

Depends I guess, Davis did this resigned as a Conservative MP and won the by-election (as the Conservative candidate) but there were loads of other candidates but mainly independents although the Greens and National Front stood and (believe it or not) the reigning Miss Great Britain at the time Ms Gemma Garrett standing as the candidate for the rather obviously named, Miss Great Brittan Party (she finished 5th) but the point I am trying to make is that Zac Goldsmith did more or less the same thing more recently in 2016, the only difference being he resigned as a Conservative MP but stood as an independent (the Conservatives did not put up a candidate) but only came second to the Lib Dem candidate.

What depends?

Resigning as an MP then standing again for the same seat and for the same party is a complete waste of time and money.

Just reading about Clacton and UKIP (which is basically Reform first name before they changed it).

UKIP's first ever MP was Douglas Carswell, who had won his seat as a Conservative for Clacton but crossed the floor to join UKIP

He resigned and won the by-election, and went on to hold it at the next General Election but again changed his alliance from UKIP to become and Independent, the Conservatives winning Clacton in the next election. Carswell now lives in the US .

He hasn't forgotten Clacton though and "In August 2025, Carswell wrote on X "From Epping to the sea, let's make England Abdul free" in response to Epping Forest activists opposing a local hotel housing asylum seekers. Ivan Henderson, the former MP for the town, criticised Carswell's comment as racist"

2 hours ago, Dimron said:

Clacton really is the arse end of the country... the best thing about it is a big radio beacon guiding flights in and out of Luton loaded with holiday makers who'd rather not go there anymore. It really is a lost cause, prime for politicians who just want to build their portfolio on fear politics.

All this is just a detraction from the real issue... millions of pounds being trousered by a 21st Century Spiv.

As Ed Davey has said, Farage should pay for the process as all it does is benefit himself , we would all be better off without these self indulgent publicists and get on with structuring our Country to suit the 21st Century

Let’s accept that is true. Why would anyone who lives in the ‘arse end of the country’ vote for any of the main parties who for years have jointly forgotten about these places ?

I know Reform won’t improve things but why would people not give them a go when all the others have failed them ?

14 minutes ago, Winchester White said:

What depends?

Resigning as an MP then standing again for the same seat and for the same party is a complete waste of time and money.

???

Err, no I wasn't saying that?

I was saying it depends on if Davis was the last MP to resign and stand in the following by-election as Zac Goldsmith did so more recently.

It depends on what criteria you (or wherever it was "you read it") meant as clearly Davis WASN'T the last MP to do so.

If it meant the last one to do so and win then that would be correct.

That's why I said it depends.

And yes I totally agree with what Farage is doing is a waste of taxpayers money BUT politics has never been about what is best for the people, it is all about what is the best for staying in power and Farage in doing this is putting the spotlight on himself from now to the by-election (thus taking it away from Burnham) and thereafter claiming "the people" want him and the "deep state" is trying to stop him - more or less a classic Trump strategy.

He will be telling us next that when he wins he's going to "drain the swamp".

26 minutes ago, Winchester White said:

What depends?

Resigning as an MP then standing again for the same seat and for the same party is a complete waste of time and money.

Shouldn't be allowed.

Makes a mockery of the system.

Issue is, one of the main parties should run, even if to give people a channel to oppose him.