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 August 14 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 August 15 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.

[Marty_d]

13 hours ago, old man emu said:

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.

Well, one of his policies was not to take 5 million pound bribes from billionaires, so he's already better than Farage.

[facthunter]

The whole thing was a Contrived Stunt by Farage to deflect from what he was caught out doing. Taking money.  People who throw money expect results for doing so.  Money TALKS.  Those who Pay the Piper CALL the tune. That's why the Pollies who work for the  Already rich live higher on the Hog. IF they can get away with it. That requires the resources to keep things Quiet. ie Control of the Media. Nev

[Brendan]

On 15/08/2026 at 5:10 PM, Marty_d said:

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

yes and know.   when people are forced to vote, how many are just going through the motions and ticking any box or just folding the slip and handing it in.

[Marty_d]

I'm sure the electoral Commission has stats on the number of informal votes.

But the thing is, if voting is optional, only those who feel strongly about issues will bother. That means more goes to the extremes, which is why you have an autocratic kleptocracy in the US right now.

I think our system means more people vote towards the centre, which helps reign in the more extreme policies on both sides.

[Jerry_Atrick]

I currently live under a Ln optional voting and fist past the post system. I am not sure Farage would have been successful given the low voter turnout (44%) delivering him a 27% vote of the total electors in his seat