Nigel Farage resigns: Clacton voters back ‘shining light’ Reform UK leader after by-election triggered

Nigel Farage’s announcement that he will stand in a by-election in Clacton-on-Sea received a largely supportive response from local voters, but one resident suggested they were “tired of all this politics”.

The Reform UK leader announced his intention to withdraw from the contest as his constituency’s MP, describing it as a war of “the people against the establishment”.

The party leader has been dogged by allegations about donations he received after it was reported that he had provided funds for security and staff in the year before his election to long-time ally and convicted criminal George Cottrell.

Retired nursery nurse Janet Simpson, who was in Essex city center on Tuesday, said: “I think it’s going to fundamentally piss people off because they’re fed up with all these politics, Andy Burnham and Starmer, and people are fed up.

“And I guess they’re all wings of the same bird.”

The 73-year-old from Clacton continued: “They are all wings of the same bird, politicians.

“I don’t know, I really don’t know, he just seems like he’s trying to clear his name a little bit, right?

“Good for him if that’s what he’s trying to do, but I prefer Rupert Lowe.”

Mr Lowe is the leader of the Restore Britain party, which he founded after a public falling out with Mr Farage and Reform, for which he was elected MP for Great Yarmouth.

Mr Lowe said Restore would not run in the by-election.

Founding member Wayne Adams, from Clacton seaside, said of the by-election: “If Farage is going to do it for the people then I’m backing him and so are a lot of people.”

The 60-year-old former soldier said: “I think I like the guy’s views, I like what he says.”

A man who gave his name only as John said he believed Mr Farage would win back his seat.

“He will win,” said the 71-year-old man, who works in sales at an automobile company.

“He says what everyone here is thinking.

“We are fed up with what is going on with immigration and other issues.

“This is just numbers, this is something the country cannot afford.

“Everyone joins the bandwagon saying ‘you are a racist, that’s what you are’; you have nothing to do with numbers.”

John said he voted Conservative.

“There are so many wrong things going on in the country that they have to elect someone who is trying to do the right thing for the country and it’s a shame that he’s backing down, honestly,” he said.

“This is ridiculous, to be honest.”

John said he would vote for Mr Farage in the by-election and added: “Nigel is a shining light for me.

“If we lose him, all hope is lost.”

Her husband Chris, 71, who works in finance, said of Mr Farage: “We support him, we support him.

“We’ve seen a difference since he’s been here.

“Something is happening and he is here. He is a presence.

“People say ‘oh I never see him’ but he is a presence.”

Asked if Mr Farage would win the by-election, one woman, who did not give her name, said: “Of course he will.”

“He’ll come back anyway,” he said.

“This is all a publicity stunt. They’re playing games.”

He said he had met Mr Farage and that he was a “good man”.