Clacton Said Yes. Again.

In August I went canvassing in Clacton for Nigel. I wasn’t alone. I was knocking doors with hunderds, and two very special Chagossian women who had their own reason for being there.

Why there was a by-election

In July, Nigel did something most MPs would never dream of. He announced on 7 July that he would vacate his seat to trigger a by-election and re-contest the constituency. Westminster wanted to pick over his affairs in committee rooms. Nigel’s answer was simple: let the people of Clacton decide.

And the other parties? Labour, the Conservatives, the Lib Dems, the Greens and Restore Britain did not contest it, leaving Count Binface, a novelty candidate, as the main challenger. When the governing party won’t stand against you in a seat it once wanted, that tells you something.

On the doorstep

The overwhelming sentiment was that they needed a Reform government. 

What we heard was consistent. People in Clacton feel ignored by Westminster. They know Nigel, they know he turns up, and they weren’t going to be told what to think by parties too frightened to put a name on the ballot.

Why Chagos came with us

The Chagossian women came because of the Chagos deal. Their families were among the thousands removed when Britain invited the US to build a military base on Diego Garcia in the late 1960s. In May 2025, the government signed a treaty handing the islands to Mauritius and agreed to pay £165 million a year for the first three years of the 99-year deal, dropping to £120 million annually from year four.

British taxpayers paying to give away British territory, with the islanders left out of the room. Reform opposed it from day one. This week, the Defence Secretary confirmed the deal is on pause and said it “can’t go ahead without American support”. Not dead yet, but on the ropes.

The result

Nigel won 22,239 votes, around 63 per cent, with a majority of 12,784 over Count Binface on a turnout of 44.4%. A record 34 candidates stood, the highest number ever for a UK parliamentary election. Thirty-four candidates, one clear winner.

Yes, a man with a bin on his head came second. When the main parties won’t turn up, the voters find their own way to say it. The bigger point stands: Clacton was offered the choice, and chose Nigel.

Why change matters

Clacton and Chagos tell the same story. Big decisions made over people’s heads, big bills handed to taxpayers, and ordinary people treated as an afterthought. Reform exists to change that.

Thank you to all the canvassers for standing with us, and thank you, Clacton.