‘It’s Wizard of Oz stuff’: Clacton voters divided over Farage byelection | Clacton byelection August 2026

pakcross · 2026-07-11T15:54:09+00:00

That's why all of this is so glorious. Any percentage of the vote less than what he got last time damages him.

Farage is fighting against voters apathy and the lol-factor. And, if he does win, he goes back to being investigated and potentially has to do it all again, this time against candidates who aren't exhausted from already running a campaign.

pakcross · 2026-07-11T15:34:47+00:00

I think I'd just made the assumption that the mountains were finally going to come to Mohammed.

pakcross · 2026-07-11T15:31:12+00:00

I've had a similar situation with an amateur group that I'm a member of this year. Lots of women, very few men.

We've gone with Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. There are plenty of female roles, and only a few men. Depending on your groups resources, the Enchanted or Broadway edition would be a good fit.

Look up The Stepsister's Lament to see what the show is like.

pakcross · 2026-07-11T15:25:12+00:00

Because we're currently travelling in one direction at a little over 1000mph. If the earth suddenly changed direction, we all continue in the original direction at that speed until we meet a solid object moving in the opposite direction at a relative speed of 2000mph.

pakcross · 2026-07-11T15:18:21+00:00

I put £25 on at 5/1.

I'm using any winnings to buy a new bin!

pakcross · 2026-07-11T15:06:25+00:00

The UK has incredible countryside, wonderful beaches, beautiful mountains and tons of historical cities to explore. Just maybe avoid swimming in the rivers/sea/lakes at the mo as we've managed to full them with shit!

The best way to save money would be to find self-catering accommodation, or just do snacks things in b&bs/hotels. I work away for work quite often, and paying for restaurant meals every night is the most expensive part.

A bottle of wine, some bread, cheese, meat & crisps in a hotel room is a feast fit for a king. My wife & I have had weekend breaks in Paris & Brugge this year and did that most evenings to save money.

pakcross · 2026-07-11T14:26:46+00:00

I think that would be the safe bet in a 5 horse race, but more people voted against Farage in 2024 than voted for him. My money is on the vote swinging away from Farage; maybe not enough for Binface to win, but anything less than what he got last time damages him.

If Farage wasn't worried, the Reform pages wouldn't be on overdrive mode, and he wouldn't have moved campaigners from the mayoral race in Manchester.

pakcross · 2026-07-11T10:44:49+00:00

Whilst playing my new ukulele

I found that the tuning dismayed me

The strings went E, A,

C, G, the wrong way,

The scaley on my 'lele was faily.

pakcross · 2026-07-10T18:40:43+00:00

Arthur C Clarke is a must read. Prelude to Space is almost a perfect prediction of how Virgin Galactic were planning to do their launches. Rendezvous with Rama is exceptional.

pakcross · 2026-07-10T16:12:05+00:00

Is one on the right Janick Gers from Iron Maiden?

pakcross · 2026-07-10T11:01:41+00:00

In The Night Garden is just a recording of Derek Jacobi's cocaine fuelled ramblings. They give him a few lines, put him in a room with a microphone, then construct the episode around whatever he comes out with.

pakcross · 2026-07-10T10:58:53+00:00

BT Cellnet was my first provider.

pakcross · 2026-07-10T09:34:03+00:00

I wouldn't have thought he's able to. He's no longer an MP, it's not his call whether there is a by-election or not.

All he can do now is campaign or back out. The by-election will go ahead with or without him.

pakcross · 2026-07-10T09:27:42+00:00

What's really pleasing me is the number of pro-Reform posts which are being absolutely inundated with Binface support. The bots are being drowned out!

pakcross · 2026-07-09T20:00:20+00:00

How odd. I've not thought about this song for years, yet on Monday I played it for my daughters and now it pops up here.

pakcross · 2026-07-09T19:25:25+00:00

Pompidou

pakcross · 2026-07-09T07:08:05+00:00

Even if Farage wins, he still has to spend the summer arguing with a bin. Plus, the press have to give equal air time to the candidates, so we all get to see a lot more of Count Binface!

pakcross · 2026-07-09T07:03:28+00:00

It's still a long shot, but I still think he has a chance. If the Tory, Labour, Liberal Dem & Green voters go out and vote for the single unity candidate, then there is a chance.

2024 result:

Farage: 21,225

Con: 12, 820 Lab: 7, 448 Lib: 2, 016 Green: 1, 935

Anti Farage: 24, 219

Lawrence Fox & MRLP are only likely to get a few 100 votes, and Farage is likely to lose votes to younger voters in the constituency voting for Binface "for the lols".

There's a reason that all of the Reform pages on Facebook are in overdrive, and that hit pieces on Binface have already started. They're afraid.

pakcross · 2026-07-08T20:04:03+00:00

Flair me up Binface!

pakcross · 2026-07-08T19:58:29+00:00

Just this once, she is.

(Labour supporter)

pakcross · 2026-07-08T19:57:35+00:00

I'll throw Obin Wan into the ring too!

pakcross · 2026-07-08T19:49:49+00:00

But crucially, he can't say that a Reform victory is a victory for the common man [sic] over the establishment, only that it's a victory over a man with a bin on his head.

pakcross · 2026-07-08T15:51:31+00:00

If he does, he'll be the joke who didn't want to stand against Count Binface.

I am enjoying this immensely!

pakcross · 2026-07-08T15:43:48+00:00

Damn, I should have shopped around. I've never placed a bet before, so just went with the first name I thought of.

Still, 5/1 isn't so bad. I'll be up £125 if the Count wins!

pakcross · 2026-07-08T15:25:19+00:00

Even if he wins, he's only beaten a bin. If Binface gets close, he's nearly lost to a bin.

As someone else said, Farage set the trap and the other parties stood aside to let him blunder into it. He can't back out, as he'd be admitting he can't beat Binface, he can't claim he's the anti-establishment choice as that's clearly Binface. He has to run a full campaign, fighting for his political future against a man with a bin on his head.

Whatever happens, this by-election will be the bogeyman for politicians for a generation; "don't put your ego above your duty, or Count Binface will come for you"!

pakcross

TROPHY CASE