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”.
When will the heatwave end?
Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures peaking at 38.1°C at Kew Gardens in London as the record-breaking summer continues.
This has been the UK’s hottest summer on record, and yesterday ranked as the UK’s fifth hottest day since records began in 1914.
The relentless heat has been coupled with a prolonged dry spell, leading to drought in many areas of the country, particularly severe in the south.
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Record-breaking heat
- The 37 days from 30 June to 5 August counted as the UK’s second-longest heatwave.
- This year, the UK has had at least one heatwave every month since May.
- The whole of Wales and more than 70 per cent of England is now in drought.
- Some parts of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and West Sussex have not had rain for 63 days.
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Drought in pictures
When will it end?
Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said temperatures will see “a gradual return to average over the next few days”.
Conditions will feel less humid by Saturday, though it will still feel warm.
As for some desperately needed rain, the Met Office said some parts may see thunderstorms later today and into Saturday.
But the next meaningful rain for the driest areas in the south “could be towards the end of next week”.
What you need to know as Farage wins Clacton by-election
The Reform UK leader claimed an “overwhelming” victory – but refused to attend the count for safety reasons.
A party spokesperson said there had been a “credible threat” made against him.
Everything you need to know
How did Farage do?
Farage won 22,239 votes in the by-election, securing a majority of 63 per cent.
What about Binface?
The satirical candidate Count Binface received 9,455 votes (27 per cent).
Who was he facing?
There were a record-breaking 34 candidates on the ballot on Thursday, though none from the main parties.
What has the reaction been?
In a brief statement posted on X, the Reform leader said: “The result in Clacton speaks for itself.”
By contrast, the Liberal Democrats said Farage had come away from the election “looking daft”, as most people “who fight against a bin” would.
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Finance probe re-opens
- Part of Farage’s reasoning behind his abrupt resignation last month was the probe into his financial affairs.
- He was being investigated by the parliamentary standards committee over the alleged “failure to register an interest”.
- It concerns a £5m “gift” from a crypto-billionaire in 2024, which Farage did not declare.
- As he has been re-elected, the probe has reopened.
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This is a hollow victory for Farage. His biggest test is about to begin
Farage has defeated a bin but questions still remain over his and Reform’s finances.
How university tuition fees may hit £11,000 a year by 2030
Record numbers of students are set to go to university this year – but they face debts as high as £100,000 when they graduate.
What you need to know
- Students starting four-year courses this autumn are to see their fees rise by more than £800 in their final year.
- Tuition fees will reach £9,790 this autumn and £10,050 next year.
- Keir Starmer’s government said fees would increase with inflation.
- With these costs, added to the maximum maintenance loan for a student living without their parents in London, the total adds up to nearly £100,000.
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Mounting concerns around cost
Lewis Wilson, vice president at the National Union of Students, said the costs of attending university were “astronomical” and students were left with “mortgage-sized” debts.
“It’s a graduate tax for life, but it’s completely unfair,” he said.
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Could the Government backtrack?
Last month, Education Secretary Lucy Powell said the issue of student loans was “very much at the top of my in-tray” and described interest charges on Plan 2 loans as “egregious”.
Iain Mansfield, head of education at the Policy Exchange think-tank, said: “Given the increasing concern about the quality of universities, there is a real question about whether or not they’ll choose to go ahead with it. It feels like a fifty-fifty decision.”
Wildfires tear through West Midlands – the latest
This morning, residents in Stourbridge woke up to the burnt-out shells of neighbouring houses after a night of terrifying wildfires swept through the West Midlands yesterday.
What happened?
- A huge blaze near Stourbridge Golf Course set six homes on fire yesterday, with 100 firefighters battling the flames.
- The ambulance service said two people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.
- West Midlands chief fire officer Simon Tuhill said “the devastation is extensive”.
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Yesterday, fire crews also fought off a fire in Stoke-on-Trent where four homes were destroyed.
There were further fires in Warwickshire, Druids Heath and Kings Norton in Birmingham, Salford Priors and Pershore in Worcestershire. A woman was also seriously injured in another blaze in Castle Vale, Birmingham.
What has the reaction been?
There are now 11 major incidents declared across the UK, many in the West Midlands.
Phil Garrigan, chairman of the National Fire Chiefs Council, told the BBC: “It’s been a particularly difficult, busy period for the fire and rescue service, where we’ve been under significant pressure.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Awful to see homes and communities hit by fires across the country tonight as the heatwave continues. My thoughts are with everyone affected.”
“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.
“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.”
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.”
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.
Casey added: “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.”
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”.