She has gone.

[red750]

Jacinta Allan has announced she will not contest the next election.

[Jerry_Atrick]

Sorry  - couldn't resist

 

A leader resigns and decides to not contest the next election. Hardly news, is it?

[old man emu]

Generates a Farrage of questions.

[Marty_d]

If only Binface had won. That would have been so good.

[facthunter]

As  His resignation was Farcical STUNT causing an election costing 250,000 Quid. Someone tell Nigel the Circus has moved on. And send him the Bill..  Nev

Edited 16 hours ago by facthunter

[Jerry_Atrick]

The Farage party are claiming it as a victory. But, the parliamentary investigation into his £5m undeclared gift has resumed and if found he violated the rules of parliament, a recall petition is put to the electorate and if a certain percentage agree, it will trigger yet another by-election. The reality is that Clacton is one of, if not the most deprived electorate in the UK and immigration, of which Farage is a one trick pony politically, is being blamed by Clactonians for all their problems will mean that the recall petition is unlikely to get the numbers. Reforms winning electorates are all in deprived areas, and is more a protest about them being relied upon for votes be Labour and the Tories more than anything else.. and I would say the apathy of the electorate is partially the result of decades, if not over a century now of being promised the earth and still being sucked dry compared to those who live in marginal electorates. Pork barelling is alive where it will buy a seat. 

 

But, Reform's claims to a mandate by the people of Clacton are as hollow as the promises made to the people of Clacton. with a 44% voter turnout against an average turnout of around 65%, it represents 27& of the voting public of Clacton who have voted for him. Of course, we can't predict which way the other 66% pg voters in Clacton would have voted if casting a ballot was mandatory - I would imagine the spoiled ballot count would be high despite the onerous requirement of putting a tick against one person only; but I have a sneaking suspicion Farage would have found the numbers far tighter than the headline suggests. 

[Marty_d]

I am so glad we have compulsory voting here.  One of the best features of our electoral system.

[Jerry_Atrick]

Yes.. I know sometimes I argue against it, but since the press at best provides a tepid analysis of things Reform and Farage, in this case I would be completely for it as it does highly encourage people to put onto paper their vote and of course, that is one of its advantages - regardless of who is contesting.. As the press are not at all highlighting the low - even by Clacton standards - voter turnout. 

Edited 8 hours ago by Jerry_Atrick

[facthunter]

These days, generally the PRESS do their job of telling NEWS (Not views) Very Poorly. . In OZ most are doing poorly and going broke. . Nev

[old man emu]

I wonder what would have happened if the voters had really decided to protest and elected Lord Binface. His candidacy was an insult to the thousands of ordinary people who have fought and died for the right to elect those who represent them in parliament.