Nigel Farage’s campaign headquarters in Clacton-on-Sea sit directly above the Gaiety Amusements arcade. And whatever your view of him, it’s hard to deny he pepped up the general election contest with his surprise announcement that he would be making his eighth attempt to become an MP. This time round it’s not only Farage who believes he’s going to win.
So do many people in this Essex seaside constituency, one which voted overwhelming in favour of Brexit. But there is one major barrier on Farage’s road to Westminster: the near-25,000 majority his Conservative Party opponent, Giles Watling commands. This is one of the safest Tory seats in the nation, but that is not dampening Farage’s ebullient mood .
Amid the chaos of half-emptied leaflet boxes, campaign papers strewn across every available surface, Farage is buoying up the troops who are preparing to spread his message to the locals. “This is a crucial week,” he tells the 20 or so supporters. “The postal votes will be landing on doormats from Wednesday, and we need to get to these people as a priority.
Now, let’s all go and get those votes.” Imbued with Farage’s “up for the fight” confidence, the campaigners file past the ex-marines and three local police officers protecting their leader, “just in case”, and march off to to spread his gospel of change. In the adjacent room, amid more boxes and leaflets, a giant Union Flag covers the entirety of one wall.
“This is what campaigning is like,” .
