Farage’s By-Election Decision Sparks LBC Callers Criticism

Callers to a radio phone-in savaged Robert Jenrick as he defended Nigel Farage’s decision to trigger a by-election in Clacton.

Reform UK’s Treasury spokesman was standing in for regular presenter James O’Brien on LBC.

Farage unexpectedly quit as an MP on Tuesday amid controversy over the £5 million gift he received from a crypto billionaire, which is being investigated by parliament’s commissioner for standards.

The Reform leader said he was triggering a “people versus the establishment” by-election, but so far his only confirmed opponent is Count Binface after Labour, the Tories, the Lib Dems and Greens all refused to take part.

Jenrick said Farage had shown “balls” by putting his political career on the line, despite the fact that he won his Clacton seat with a majority of 8,400 just two years ago.

He also said the other parties were “cowards” for not putting up their own candidates.

But the vast majority of people who rang in during the hour-long debate took a different view.

Al in Glasgow said: “I think Farage is throwing toys out of his pram.

“He cannot deal with challenge, and so he has to have some kind of primadonna reaction. It’s nothing to do with democracy.

“His democratic vote has already been taken, the other parties shouldn’t rise to the bait, he’s just being a child.”

John in Sheffield said: “I think that Nigel Farage isn’t a sensible candidate, even when compared to Count Binface.”

But Jenrick hit back: “I do think Count Binface is an interesting character. Nigel has been in the House of Commons now for two years, so he’s used to people who’ve got robotic voices and a head full of rubbish, so I’m sure he’ll be able to take on Binface.”

Another caller, Ben from Leigh-on-Sea, said Farage was “insulting the voters of Clacton by not waiting for the commission to produce their report and their findings, and then there potentially being a by-election when they’ve got all the facts in front of them”.

“Do you not think he’s being cowardly by trying to get out in front before we know the full facts and evidence against him,” he said.

Even Reform member Nicola from Horsham did not agree with Farage’s move.

She said: “What’s happening now is leaving me in despair. I don’t like this by-election sideshow nonsense.

“Nigel is giving the media exactly what they want. No matter what channel you turn to – TV, radio, they’re loving it. All slagging off Nigel, when really all this is going on and Andy Burnham is sliding straight into No.10 unchallenged.

“I just feel if Nigel wasn’t doing this, perhaps people would be on Andy’s case.”

Lisa in Brentwood said Farage was “a vile, repulsive individual”.

“Everything that comes out of his mouth is a lie,” she told Jenrick, who defected from the Tories to Reform earlier this year.

“The fact that you’re sticking up for him just shows what a person you are because you didn’t have a by-election, you were quite happy to just walk across the floor without giving the people of Runcorn a chance to decide whether they wanted Reform.”

Another caller, Tom from Bury St Edmonds, said the by-election “does nothing for the people of Clacton”.

“At the end of the day these are constituents who have genuine concerns and genuine issue and they need help and support from their member of parliament, and they’ll be lacking that if there’s by-election after by-election,” he said.

“That to me makes this feel like a political stunt.”

Bea in Northampton said Farage and Jenrick were trying to “muddy the waters” by deflecting attention away from the standards probe.

Simon in Taunton told Jenrick: “How do I follow those earlier callers who absolutely wiped the floor with you?

“As you sit there as Nigel’s foot soldier trying to gaslight Reform supporters and the poor unsuspecting electorate of Clacton-on-Sea, have you got your fingers crossed behind your back? Do you actually believe anything you’re saying?

“You know and I know that this by-election is completely unnecessary. It is a complete circus show that Nigel Farage is putting on as part of his usual theatrics to garner the spotlight.”

Reform MP Lee Anderson this morning kick-started the by-election process by “moving the writ” in parliament.

It confirms that Farage is no longer Clacton’s MP, and that a date for a by-election will now need to be set.

Reform want it to take place on August 6, but it may end up being on August 13.

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