Clacton town centre is bustling, the beaches are packed, and the pier is raking in cash. The weather helps, but press coverage and Count Binface's promotional videos have also put the town on the radar. Tourists appear to be having a lovely time, yet for resident Sarah Elizabeth Cox, the town she moved to in 2022 now feels like a never-ending circus.
From Beach Walks to Media Frenzy
Cox, a historian and communications manager, moved to Clacton in 2022 and initially loved the beach walks, cheap drinks, and panoramic coastal views. The first year was brilliant, ending with a newborn baby and a sense of pride in her new home. But when Nigel Farage targeted the town ahead of the 2024 general election, everything changed.
The world's press descended, followed by thousands of social media comments branding residents thick, racist, gullible, hateful, toothless, jobless old fools. Cox notes the snobbery was worst on her left-leaning social media platform, Bluesky. Farage was elected with 46% of a 58% turnout, and while Cox didn't support him, she understood why some voted as they did.
Farage's Absence and Local Concerns
Despite his victory, Cox says Farage seems less keen on surgeries or representing Clacton in the Commons. He pops by for photo opportunities like a ceremonial mayor, but has raised Clacton issues in parliament only six times, compared to other local MPs. Local concerns include homeless people in closed bank doorways, empty commuter trains, worsening health, declining life expectancy, low employment rates, and a lack of affordable homes. The town has no A&E and no maternity care after 5pm.
Cox hoped Farage would promote the town's positives, as Count Binface has done, but instead the media presence has grown even bigger this summer. Content creators and reporters vox pop outside Wetherspoons, cherrypicking quotes about how great Nigel is, while leaflets and a Reform bus have added to the surreal, hostile atmosphere. Anti-racism campaigners have been told to F off, and British Democratic party posters leer from billboards.
Residents' Apathy and Predictions
Despite the media circus, Cox says she hasn't overheard a single conversation about it in shops, gyms, pubs, or at nursery drop-off. The leaflets get left in hallways unread, and few of her family or neighbours plan to vote. She predicts a low turnout, with Farage way ahead and Binface second but the only real winner.
Cox concludes that after the byelection, the town will be forgotten again, and residents will return to talking about what really matters in Clacton: litter, landlords, potholes, parking, and whether there'll be a second series of Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives.
