One thought on the Clacton contenders: the ‘establishment’ looks a bit different these days, doesn’t it? | Marina Hyde
Why This Matters
Key context: <p>Nigel Farage has billed his byelection as a clash with the powers that be. To wit: Laurence Fox, a naked celebrity and a man with a bin on his head</p><p>Quick look at the Clacton byelection field as it stands: Nigel Farage, Count Binface, Piers Corbyn, Laurence Fox, some bloke who’s been on Married at First Sight and Dating Naked ... anyway, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crlw69p6lyeo">there’s more</a>, but you get the picture. It’s going to be a long hot summer. By the end of this contest Clacton will be begging to be left behind again.</p><p>To recap, Reform leader Farage this week delivered an address to the nation on his political future, which can effectively be summarised as “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the messiest bitch of all?” Under fire over his recently exposed penchant for taking <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/05/latest-allegations-nigel-farage-funding-reform">mental amounts of money</a> and benefits from Thailand-based cryptophiliacs/<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/09/police-investigate-500000-reform-donations-from-mother-of-fraudster-who-backed-farage">convicted fraudsters and their mums</a>, Nigel has decided to seek validation by asking the voters of Clacton to rule on him. So yes, Farage has triggered a byelection – but he’s also triggered anyone who’s ever been in a toxic relationship where their partner forces them into public declarations of loyalty. It’s all very “I always choose you over everyone, Nigel, and I hate that my family are trying to destroy us”.</p><p>Marina Hyde’s new book, What a Time to be Alive!, is out in September (Guardian Faber Publishing, £20). To support the Guardian, order your signed copy at <a href="https://www.guardianbookshop.com/what-a-time-to-be-alive-9781783353316/?utm_source=editoriallink&utm_medium=merch&utm_campaign=article">guardianbookshop.com</a>. Delivery charges may apply</p><p>Marina Hyde is a Guardian columnist<strong><br></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/10/clacton-byelection-nigel-farage-establishment-laurence-fox-reform">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.
Nigel Farage has billed his byelection as a clash with the powers that be. To wit: Laurence Fox, a naked celebrity and a man with a bin on his headQuick look at the Clacton byelection field as it stands: Nigel Farage, Count Binface, Piers Corbyn, Laurence Fox, some bloke who’s been on Married at First Sight and Dating Naked ... anyway, there’s more, but you get the picture. It’s going to be a long hot summer. By the end of this contest Clacton will be begging to be left behind again.To recap, Reform leader Farage this week delivered an address to the nation on his political future, which can effectively be summarised as “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the messiest bitch of all?” Under fire over his recently exposed penchant for taking mental amounts of money and benefits from Thailand-based cryptophiliacs/convicted fraudsters and their mums, Nigel has decided to seek validation by asking the voters of Clacton to rule on him. So yes, Farage has triggered a byelection – but he’s also triggered anyone who’s ever been in a toxic relationship where their partner forces them into public declarations of loyalty. It’s all very “I always choose you over everyone, Nigel, and I hate that my family are trying to destroy us”.Marina Hyde’s new book, What a Time to be Alive!, is out in September (Guardian Faber Publishing, £20). To support the Guardian, order your signed copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may applyMarina Hyde is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
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