Nigel Farage has announced he will resign as MP for Clacton, triggering a by-election, but immediately declared he will stand for re-election. All major parties—Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens, and Restore Britain—have declined to field a candidate, leaving only Count Binface as opposition.
Farage's Resignation and By-Election
Facing increased scrutiny over his finances and a parliamentary investigation, Farage stated that “the people of Clacton should be the judge of my actions.” The by-election places the seaside town again at the center of political attention.
Writer's Visit: A Depressing Picture
In November 2025, writer Emilia Randall visited Clacton-On-Sea, describing it as a place she was “never so relieved to leave.” She compared the town to the gloomy late 2000s, with empty streets, abandoned stores, and a pervasive sense of decline.
Randall noted an abandoned Superdrug store with building materials on the pavement, bustling pubs at 1pm on a Tuesday, and residents moving with a “weary shuffle.” A chaotic cafe with towels soaking up dampness and a motivational quote reading “Smile while you still have teeth!” added to the atmosphere.
Charity Shop and Local Encounters
A charity shop window featured replica WW2 uniforms and national flags, arranged by the manager who “takes real pride in all that,” according to a volunteer. Randall and her friend Pierre, after paying £2 for instant coffee, moved on to escape the same song playing in multiple shops.
Seafront and Pier
The seafront was deserted, with rusted rides creaking on the pier. Two food stands were open despite off-season. Randall bought a doughnut from Anya, a 20-year-old local, who said: “I like my job, I like seeing the families coming down in summer. Everyone's happy and that brings me happiness. There are the usual things that are bad about this town, weird people and drunkenness—but the good comes with the bad.”
Another local, Damon, who had just left the Old Lifeboat House pub, recalled fond memories of bringing his daughters to the beach. “It's a nice place really, it's a bit rundown but most of these seaside towns nowadays are,” he said.
Beach and Departure
The beach featured deep yellow sands with sharp rocks. The pier was empty except for a few teenagers, a young couple, and two boys playing pool. Locals insisted the town “comes alive on sunny days.” As Randall left, the sun reappeared, illuminating autumn trees and injecting color—much to her relief.
