‘Farage doesn’t care about Clacton – but I’ll still be voting for him’

For the seaside town of Clacton, the support of many voters for the scandal-plagued former MP is unwavering.

After Nigel Farage resigned on Tuesday following a crackdown on unregistered donations, many voters reiterated their view that he had done nothing wrong.

As for the others, they seemed unperturbed by the numerous scandals facing the Reformation leader; This includes improperly failing to declare millions in donations before becoming an MP.

His resignation, dubbed a “political stunt”, led to a by-election expected to cost taxpayers around £250,000.

Mr Farage has vowed to fight the election and give voters the chance to “stick two fingers into the establishment”. But all major political parties have boycotted the election, leaving the Reform leader in a fight against space warrior Count Binface.

Independent He visited Clacton to obtain information from those who would decide his political fate. It looks like Mr Farage may return to Westminster come voting day.

“Every politician is corrupt, that’s to be expected,” said Mel Campbell, 78, who supports Reform and its leader.

The Clacton resident has never seen the MP and doesn’t think he has done much for the area since his election.

He also believes Mr Farage is running in the seaside town for the sole purpose of getting into parliament. “He doesn’t really care about Clacton… He had never heard of Clacton until it came up as an opportunity.”

But Mr Farage’s tough stance on immigration was enough to win the vote.

Mr Campbell thinks Mr Farage’s alleged undeclared donations, including a £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, are a “happening all the time” in politics.

“That’s exactly why people are in politics,” he said, adding that Mr Farage was “probably not anymore”. [corrupt] than other politicians.”

His wife, Elene Campbell, 79, is also weighing a vote for Mr Farage, although she has not backed him in 2024 or believes he has achieved anything since his election.

“We need change,” he said, adding: “I think that could be the change.”

Jane Tree, 66, voted for Mr Farage in 2024 because she thought he could “get something I want”.

She believes he was “trying to make things better for us” but “faced too much opposition” to deliver the change he promised.

“I was hoping that you would think about your retirees, because they have worked all their lives and now the government will tax them.”

Still, there is full support for the politician, whom he likens to an “uncle”.

“He’s independent, no different from anyone else. He’s like my uncle in a good way.”

Reform supporter Len Brown, 79, believes Nigel Farage was forced to resign because parliament ignored him.

He said there was “no issue” with his allegedly undeclared donations, adding: “What party doesn’t do anything like that, anyway? They’ve all got their fingers in the pies.”

Mr Brown felt Mr Farage had served his electorate well and was unperturbed by a possible second by-election that could be triggered if an investigation by parliament’s standards commissioner results in Mr Farage being suspended for more than 10 days.

Residents Jim and June Jackson agree that the Reform leader should not face any scrutiny over the undisclosed donations.

“It was a gift. Why don’t people realize it was a gift for him,” said Ms Jackson, 74, who once “hugged” Mr Farage.

Mr Jackson, 76, added: “He’s doing a good job for Clacton, and he is. I’ve spoken to him; he’s a very sociable guy.”

“Everyone says he’s in America and he’s here, but we always see him here.

“We never see Tories or Labor people here.”

While Mr Farage has the support of many residents, one says he is losing support.

Gary Grant, 60, is furious at Nigel Farage’s resignation and said the Reform leader “just doesn’t want to face the music”.

The parcel delivery worker, who voted for the Liberal Democrats in 2024, said: “He’s throwing his toys out of the pram, that’s all he does. He’s just throwing tantrums.”

Mr Grant was once a supporter of Mr Farage, but now thinks Reform is the party of former Tory MPs only.​

“When Farage first came on stage and started telling people what they wanted to hear, that’s what I wanted to hear. I thought, yeah, he’s the man we want, that’s what we need, but he’s done absolutely nothing since 2024.”

Reform UK has been contacted for comment.