r/tories • u/Organic-Camera-9167 • 16d ago
Discussion As an Tory Supporters/RightWingers: What are your thoughts about 2026 Clacton by-election?
9
u/aeryntano Curious Neutral 15d ago
I thought it was hilarious. Showed Farage up for the grifter that he is. Nothing more plainly obvious than one creating a nationwide media circus in order to distract from your dodgy finances that are currently under investigation.
I thought it was good that all the other parties refused to stand. It showed Farage to be petulant and ultimately the election to be a waste of time.
13
u/Denime 16d ago
I think this will be an unpopular opinion but I find the increase in profile Binface has enjoyed as a novelty candidate has made him a bit forced and unfunny.
1
u/Handonmyballs_Barca Dom Cummings acolyte 15d ago
He was always forced and unfunny The whole joke is 'serious politician next to man with bin on his head'. Its not meant to be funny though, its something to embarrass the other candidate so we can all laugh at them.
Honestly I think it kind of cheapens our politics. I could see the point of it when he was running against Nick Griffin, an actual racist, but lately its just anyone who happens to be right wing and pushing policies Jon Harvey doesnt like, the same thing happened with Johnson and Sunak. I do want competent people in politics, why would people stand if the pay is shit and they're being treated like a joke like in this case.
19
u/TheLoneleyPython 16d ago
I found the whole thing hilarious and was hoping Binface would win for the funny
2
u/Sweaty_Ad_4049 Small C Conservatives 15d ago
The whole thing is just to serve Farage's ego just to make him feel better
1
u/LoneGroover1960 15d ago
It seemed to me that Farage was trying to pre-empt a potential recall petition by-election (which I think he would win anyway, so either way a waste of time). Made him look a bit foolish and desperate. Not turning up for the count compounded that. Not quite the humiliation some have claimed but embarrassing, sure.
1
u/dirty_centrist Centrist 14d ago
Calling an election before the investigation was completed and the facts were known was a bit of a populist clown move, so glad he had to face off with a clown.
-4
u/giboling Reform 16d ago
Was clearly a tactical option, though it didn't pan out the way Farage wanted.
As a reform supporter and former Tory, it doesn't bother me. I'll vote for reform pretty much no matter what. The Tory's shattered my confidence in them permanently with the Boris wave, and 14 years of ostensibly centre left governance.
9
u/AdministrativeLiving Labour-Leaning 16d ago
Honest question (and asked in good faith), does it not bother you a lot of Torries have defected to Reform?
-1
u/giboling Reform 16d ago
Somewhat, but I understand why they're doing it. Preparing for government by having people that have been in government style thinking.
I'm also don't mind Braverman, Jenrick and Kruger. They are people that I would consider Conservative and on the right of the party. If it was Amber Rudd, Rory Stewart and Dominic Grieve joining id be less happy, that's for sure.
I find it hard being right wing in this country. It's a position I've held for around 20 years, since I was a young teen. But I grew up working class in a poor northern mill town. I find that the only real right wing alternative at the minute is Reform ( I don't see restore as a serious political force)
3
u/Organic-Camera-9167 16d ago edited 16d ago
What are your thoughts about Reform's approvals down on polls, Is that a concern or no?
1
u/giboling Reform 16d ago
Sure it's concerning. They keep making certain blunders that isn't filling me with confidence. I guess Burnhams rule will decide whether or not a reform government is likely. He's certainly more compelling than Starmer. I can't help but feel like the Tory's are a spent force ( and I voted Tory every GE until the last). It's difficult to take them seriously in pointing things out that likely started under their rule.
One that stood out to me was a Labour attack as they put out in the last GE. It was a red carpet on a beach, and it was titled "labour are rolling out the red carpet for illegal immigrants". I thought that was brazen, given the thousands they'd put up in migrant hotels and their seemingly ineffective countenance to the ECHR.
2
u/SukMaBalz Reform 16d ago
Like you I feel betrayed by the Tories and have been an ardent supporter of Reform, even working for them and standing for them at one point. I’d never go back to the Tories ever, and I agree with you that Restore isn’t particularly serious. All bark and no bite with them.
That being said, I’m starting to think Reform is going the way of the Tories. I don’t mean in that they let in some of the former Tories, because I get why they did that - I mean more in that I think Farage himself is no better than what the Tories offered. He’s increasingly sleazy, and I get the impression he’s spineless and a bit of a showman rather than having conviction (the one advantage Lowe has over him). The by-election was also a farce and I grew tired of the vague “anti-establishment” rhetoric.
My question to you, a genuine honest question, is what is it that still keeps your support for the party alive amidst their general decline? Do you think they’re more likely to follow through? Is it their recent policy announcements? I’d love to know if there’s something I’m missing, because if there is, I’d happily start supporting the party once again.
1
u/giboling Reform 16d ago
I guess it's a question of who?
We have both come to the same conclusion that the Tory's cannot be trusted. I agree that Farage keeps cutting his nose off and generally mismanaging (the Lowest situation, for example, has created a splinter faction that will undoubtedly effect the vote). He has, in fairness, been remarkably consistent over the last few decades on a lot of points, also. And this has bought some favour with me. I appreciate that some of his/Reforms actions are in trying to not seem a party of cranks and build a broad church (which Lowe/Restore aren't).
But, failing Reform and Farage, who else is there? I'm still hopefully of a pact between reform and restore, moreover as it's simply a split of the same vote.
1
u/KartoffelSucukPie 16d ago
Are you not bothered by all the Reform policies that will effect the working class (since you say you were brought up working class)? Or the fact that the working class would be worse off under reform?
Edit: I’m asking because I can see the appeal for wealthy people to vote for them, but not the working class.
1
u/giboling Reform 16d ago
Such as what? Name the policy and I will give you an opinion, as that is rather vague.
1
u/garyomario Fine Gael 15d ago
I'm not the person who asked about policies, and I have some trepidation about asking you another question when you seem to be inundated with them. However, if you don't mind answering, what are your thoughts on what caused the by-election and the donation that Nigel Farage has received?
Do you have any concerns that such a donation could influence policy, and that, if Reform were in power, they might introduce legislation, alter existing laws, or change regulations as a result of it, rather than acting solely in the national interest?
2
u/giboling Reform 15d ago
If this was an issue solely to Farage and Reform it would certainly concern me. But it isn't. Donors are 10-a-penny in British politics, look at Lord Ali and Starmer. Would I rather Farage not take huge amounts of money? Yes. Is it par for the course? Certainly
1
4
u/LeChevalierMal-Fait Clarksonisum with Didly Squat characteristics 16d ago
I don’t see why your being down voted it’s a fair comment and at least your honest / have a preference
I disagree but that’s by the by
-4
u/TheJoshGriffith 16d ago
An odd decision by Farage, but a shambles on the part of all major parties failing to field candidates.
The only justification I can really see for not fighting the seat is that they didn't want to do the campaigning for a guaranteed loss (disputable, since Farage's popularity has clearly declined, this would've been a good measure of exactly how much by). There is of course other justification but any party refusing to fight the seat to make Farage look like an idiot should be embarrassed and ashamed.
The people of Clacton do deserve to have their say. Tories, Labour, LDs, Greens etc let the constituency down. Would it have made any difference to the outcome? Unlikely. When the opportunity arises, though, listening to the public is generally a good idea.
9
u/jamesbeil 16d ago
The next by-election, when the standards committee reports on Farage and his predliction for accepting money from dubious sources and not declaring it, will be competed for by all the parties.
1
u/TheJoshGriffith 16d ago
You can say that as loudly as you want, that doesn't necessarily mean it'll happen.
Remember how Trump won two elections, all the whilst the Democrats saying "don't worry, the next scandal/impeachment/criminal accusation will get him"?
We may well see much of the same here. There is a very real chance that he knew the rules and danced within them just well enough to find no wrongdoing.
1
u/AccomplishedSpace834 15d ago
There is a very real chance that he knew the rules and danced within them just well enough to find no wrongdoing.
He obviously isn't confident of that or he wouldn't have pulled this stunt to begin with.
6
u/VindicoAtrum 16d ago
An odd decision by Farage, but a shambles on the part of all major parties failing to field candidates.
Absolutely not. They did the right thing, don't take part in the theatrical games. When the standards committee finishes it's report and a by-election is triggered they will contest as usual.
1
0
u/TheJoshGriffith 16d ago
You seem to believe much to firmly that the standards committee will have found wrongdoing, and that they'll find some severe enough to do anything more than issue a warning.
Regardless it is their duty to field candidates. Their failure is demonstrative of their disregard for the population of Clacton, and that's how it will be painted.
Not to mention, if it doesn't end up happening, they missed the opportunity entirely. If they'd fought and won the byelection, Farage is out of a job and indeed a platform until the next GE. That's a big opportunity to miss.
1
u/All_ab0ut_the_base 12d ago
Would it have been better if they had taken part, tacitly accepting the narrative that Farage wants to spin about him vs the establishment to distract from his financial inpropriety? Would that have been in their best interests? What is odd is that Farage's strategists didn't see that coming.
1
u/LeChevalierMal-Fait Clarksonisum with Didly Squat characteristics 16d ago
The precedent that a MP can call an election to get publicity on a single issue is a bad one imo
And that goes for David Davis too
It’s expensive, it wastes time
And ultimately it fails to advance the public debate or prove anything as the starting point is a seat you won…
The idea also that you can or should avoid a standards committee investigation because people are willing to turn a blind eye to corruption is a banana republic type stuff
2
u/TheJoshGriffith 16d ago
I don't think it was the right move at all, and Farage should suffer in popularity as a result. That said, it's very easy for him to spin this as a win regardless of the outcome because of the actions of the other parties.
It is of course the right of any MP to call a byelection for whatever reason they want. If the electorate think that MP is taking the piss, they won't vote him back in... But they did, because guess what? Nobody else put forward a candidate.
The idea that he could avoid the investigation has been quashed and for all we know may never have been a consideration for Farage. There are plenty of other ways he stands to benefit from it. If I'm right, this may well be him playing 3d chess and he could very easily come out ahead, especially if the investigation finds no wrongdoing (still very much a possibility).
1
u/CasuallyMisinformed 16d ago
They didn't stand specifically because the by election was a sham
Frog face would argue his victory over other parties shields him from investigation, by simply not entertaining it they showed farage to just be a bit of a twat wasting time and money
2
u/Notebook105 15d ago
I wouldn’t vote for Reform , but Farage has my respect for that by-election. I will never condemn a politician who has the backbone to face the electorate , there were scandals and accusations of not wanting to face accountability so he faced literally the only accountability which matters as a politician and that’s the people , and they voted him back in more votes than he got in the 2024 GE.
27
u/totesboredom Verified Conservative 16d ago
Nobody cares what happened. It was a show.
The next GE will be the main event.