On the ground in Clacton: Can Nigel Farage win?

Nigel Farage this week announced not only that he will take over as leader of Reform UK, but that he will stand for election in Clacton.

Just 18 hours after his declaration, people flocked from across the country to catch a glimpse of Farage as he launched his campaign in the constituency.

We went along to find out: can Nigel Farage take the seat from the Conservatives and worsen Rishi Sunak's election results?

The candidates running for election in Clacton are:
Matthew Bensilum: Liberal Democrats
Nigel Farage: Reform UK
Craig Jamieson: Climate Party
Tony Mack: Independent
Natasha Osben: Green Party
Jovan Owusu-Nepaul: Labour Party
Tasos Papanastasiou: Heritage Party
Andrew Pemberton: UK Independence Party (UKIP)
Giles Watling: Conservative and Unionist Party

Reporter: Ava Santina
Camera: Harry Ainsworth

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[samzelza]

"The forest was shrinking but the trees kept voting for the Axe, for the Axe was clever and convinced the trees that because his handle was made of wood, he was one of them."

[leeevernden]

‘Make Clacton great again’ FFS you can’t make this up 😂

[VaucluseVanguard]

I’m not a Farage supporter, primarily because he is a Thatcherite conservative. I lived that once and I don’t want to do that again. But I have an issue with an electoral system that could potentially see his party get 6 million votes and possibly no MPs. Equally, it is wrong Caroline Lucas had to ply her trade alone over the past 14 years when her party routinely got 1.5 million votes.

[andrina]

Politician claims not to be politician shock

[reyesmasters]

Oh the irony of his “never judge a book by its cover” T-shirt 😂

[chrism]

This is why voting is important, all these people will be voting.

[AvocadoAfficionado]

Disabled guy on benefits. Nige is my guy!

What?

[wrightdante]

A lot of classism in the comments, these are honest british people giving their opinion, these are the people the mainstream parties have failed and failed to convince....

[deol]

We're surrounded by foreigners!!
In Clacton?? 😂😂

[Mazeboxx]

2:02 You not going to the dentist for 7 years doesn't mean there aren't any...enough dentists in Clacton...

[edwardgarner]

It was the lady saying "he goes in the pub and he smokes he's not pretending to be someone he's not" had me gassed, cause he'll be back in wetherspoons having a pint with the locals when the cameras have all gone aye?

[Mr.Glitch]

So because Nigel spoke to someone with adhd, he's now an expert on disabilities and will help us ? 🤯

[masimbw]

"I ❤ Oil and Gas" t-shirt .. I applaud that man for wearing his kinks with honour during pride month, so progressive.

[kennyRumbles]

Aw that lovely woman’s chip skewered on that fork is now stone cold.
Nice to see genuine people speaking their minds.
Good luck people ❤

[RylanCzuczman]

The irony of the bloke talking about the Tories parachuting candidates in when Reform have done exactly that with Clacton - pure, bald-faced opportunism, taking advantage of the very same people he swindled with Brexit. What a mess.

[Uduwerage]

I wonder if the chap with the t-shirt “Never Judge A Book By Its Cover” realises how ironic it is?

[caroleperry]

I hope Nigel does get a seat in parliament can you imagine the havoc he will cause be well worth it.

[TheRepublicOfYhonai]

How on earth can these people think he actually gives a stuff about them?

[theoldonesarethebes]

FARAGE, Nigel RUK 21, 225
WATLING, Giles Con 12, 820
OWUSU-NEPAUL, J Lab 7, 448
BENSILUM, Matthew LD 2, 016
OSBEN, Natasha Green 1, 935
😀

[blazzz]

4:20 Nige is normal he went to a private school, was a city banker and he's so skint he was banking with Coutts. Nige is about as 'normal' as Boris- wolf in sheep's clothing.