How can anyone fall for the "If you vote for me it proves I'm innocent" schtick he is trying to pull.
Winning a by-election in a constituency where he already has a solid majority proves absolutely nothing.
A large amount of Clacton will vote for restore so it is far from certain he will win.
Lowe will use everything he has and hammer corruption until the very end
I’ve been attacked again and again. I am the most physically and verbally attacked public figure or politician of modern times.
The families of both Jo Cox and David Amess would probably have something to say about that Nigel.
He's just trying to get ahead of the game. He knows the parliamentary standards investigation is going to find him guilty and when they do the recall petition goes straight in and the by-election is triggered anyway
He's just trying to make it look like this is his choice to do this.
it isn't! He's jumping before he's pushed
Now is the time to join a party. Don't rely on other people to do the work for you. It doesn't cost much .
How can anyone fall for the "If you vote for me it proves I'm innocent" schtick he is trying to pull.
Have you met the British public? Have you seen what 'we've' voted for recently...
How quickly could Kier put through a Bill that excludes resigning MPs from standing in future elections anywhere in the England/ N Ireland/ Scotland/ Wales for "x" amount of time like 3+ years?
All we need is a change to the regulations that say ex-MPs should still face investigations into their affairs... you shouldn't be able to get off the hook just because you resign, or because your misdemeanours are only uncovered after you've stopped being an MP. We already have something like that for ex-ministers.
Slow clap to the BBC for giving this grifting clown a platform to spout his rubbish unchallenged.
Wonder if Restore will stand?
A three way fight between Reform, restore and the Tories could see some very nasty hard right rhetoric
In Clacton it will be the new right wing tories, Reform and Restore. Sean Locke's Nazi-Island has indeed come true.
I would be astonished if restore don't stand. Lowe hates farage so will do anything he can to screw him over
Slow clap to the BBC for giving this grifting clown a platform to spout his rubbish unchallenged.
They can't not cover it and it wasn't a press conference it was a Reform live stream, so they had no choice. Farage doing what he does best... controlling the narrative. He''s infuriatingly good at it
Wonder if Restore will stand?
They'll throw the kitchen sink at it!
Judging by the results in 2024 it's hard to see anyone not from the right winning in Clacton. So presumably Nigel feels fairly safe and if he wins he'll claim people don't care about his dodgy donations and it's all just a MSM conspiracy, picking on the plucky underdog.
Slow clap to the BBC for giving this grifting clown a platform to spout his rubbish unchallenged.
They can't not cover it and it wasn't a press conference it was a Reform live stream, so they had no choice. Farage doing what he does best... controlling the narrative. He''s infuriatingly good at it
No, for example it could have been covered as an item in the evening news instead of being live broadcast verbatim as the headline item on the BBC news website. It was entirely an editorial decision to live stream it in its entirety.
Presumably he will declare the things he should have if he runs again?
controlling the narrative. He''s infuriatingly good at it
Only because he is allowed to. They could quite easily decline and provide the highlights of it. He isnt the ****ing PM and any other party leader would just have the highlights.
As the last few days show he is actually really ****ing shit at controlling the narrative without the active connivance of the media.
He is a whining ****ing manchild who just cosplays with a pint in his hand relying on the media being useless ****s. For once they are managing to do their ****ing jobs and he is throwing his toys out of the pram expecting them, as the BBC just did, to pick them up for the turd.
I’ve been attacked again and again. I am the most physically and verbally attacked public figure or politician of modern times.
The families of both Jo Cox and David Amess would probably have something to say about that Nigel.
Not to mention the fact he has done almost more than anyone to demonise, and created hatred of immigrants. I do wonder how many people have suffered abuse, fear, violence and intimidation because of his actions.
It was entirely an editorial decision to live stream it in its entirety.
You can't turn back the clock and wish it away. We live in an era of 24 hour rolling news and the BBC is part of that, so absolutely nobody in an editorial position is going to turn down a live stream from the leader of a political party presently polling the same or higher than the 2 main parties. It's just not going to happen. Nor should it. Whether you like it or not, it is the definition of news. Not to cover it would technically be censorship and then he'd be bangingg on about freedom of speech, so you'd just be giving him more ammo
Farage knows this. Like I said... he's infuriatingly good at controlling the narrative, but he knows exactly how this modern media environment works. The other party seem to be struggling with it
Not to cover it would technically be censorship
No one has said dont cover it but simply that his lies shouldnt be broadcast live without challenge.
Whilst obviously he would whine that doesnt mean he should be pandered to. Thats why the party is doing so well since the **** isnt challenged on his lies and hatemongering or held to account for his previous lies.
That isnt a failing of the other parties but a failing of the media especially the BBC politics team who take their pandering to the right to extremes with this ****.
You can keep saying how good he is at controlling the narrative but that ignores how bad he actually is at it. Lets not forget he spent most of this year hiding before emerging briefly and getting his arse handed to him before hiding again until now. There is a reason the **** didnt dare face questions but wanted unquestioning airtime. Anyone can be good at controlling the narrative, okay maybe not Starmer, so long as the media goes along with it.
Not dissimilar to that PR genius Cameron who was all conquering until he went against the part of the establishment who own most of the media.
How about none of the "establishment" parties field a candidate, denying Farage the ability to claim the victory he seeks.
Greens are going to stand on the principle that garage is the establishment.
Would be great to watch the others get out of the way and watch restore savage reform too
From the Guardian Comments section:
"Suspension of investigations
39. The Commissioner has the discretion to suspend investigations at any time. This may, for example, happen if the Member suffers ill health or a bereavement during the investigation, or where a related police investigation is taking place.
40. If Parliament is dissolved or the Member otherwise ceases to be a Member while an investigation is in progress, the Commissioner will suspend their investigation until the Member is re-elected. If the Member is not returned to Parliament, the Commissioner will decide if it is appropriate and proportionate to resume their investigation."
Weasel
I’ve been attacked again and again. I am the most physically and verbally attacked public figure or politician of modern times.
Yes, you will know of some of the incidents, milkshakes thrown in my face, placards bashed over my head, but let me promise you, you only know about a fraction of the number of times that I’ve been assaulted.
Maybe try being nicer to people?
How can anyone fall for the "If you vote for me it proves I'm innocent" schtick he is trying to pull.
Have you met the British public? Have you seen what 'we've' voted for recently...
I think that was his point. He's saying that winning would prove nothing not that he won't win
Imho
You can keep saying how good he is at controlling the narrative but that ignores how bad he actually is at it
You can’t have it both ways. You’ve said he’s no good at controlling the narrative and in the next sentence you’re complaining about him controlling the narrative.
We all loath Farage, but saying that he’s not an effective communicator is just wishful thinking and simply not true. He’s extremely good at it and that speech today will have landed very well with exactly the kind of half-wits who inexplicably still buy his ‘it’s me against the establishment’ nonsense. Unfortunately there’s a sizable chunk of them and he knows exactly how to push their buttons
The speech might have landed well, but the way all the bribe stuff is going to be used in the by-election won't help
Apparently there was some talk/handbags about Carol Vorderman standing against Nige in Clacton at the next GE as an independent early this year and she's since spoke about idea of being an MP.
I wonder if she will put her name in the hat for this by-election.
The speech might have landed well, but the way all the bribe stuff is going to be used in the by-election won't help
He knows he’s guilty as sin so this is shit or bust! If he didn’t do this today then it’d be a recall petition and a byelection anyway, when (not if) they find him guilty of breaching parliamentary rules (and whatever other misdemeanors)
He’s just trying to get ahead of the game and cast himself as the ‘boo hoo, poor me’ persecuted victim of an establishment stitch up as they’re scared of him.
Total bollocks of course, but as we know there’s a willing and gullible audience for his self-serving shite
You can’t have it both ways. You’ve said he’s no good at controlling the narrative and in the next sentence you’re complaining about him controlling the narrative.
Lucky I am not saying that then isnt it? There is a difference between someone controlling the narrative vs someone being aided and abetted.
Again lets take Cameron.
We were told what a genius he was at PR and was a master at controlling the narrative but then as soon as he went against the media barons he was ****ed.
We all loath Farage, but saying that he’s not an effective communicator is just wishful thinking and simply not true
When he is being protected by the media he is okay, although he is tediously simplistic, but as per the last couple of weeks he struggles under the most mild of pressure. There is a reason he refused to face the media today.
This is why the BBC etc shouldnt give him a platform to lie without challenge. No one else, not even the PM, is treated in such a fawning manner.
Presumably he will declare the things he should have if he runs again?
I think that's the point.
He'll have received stuff more than 12 months prior to election, his problem will be if the current investigation is resurrected
do catholic woods bears.. something something
it appears that the pope is considering turning to the Jedi religion and the bears are constipated...
Rupert Lowe has said Restore Britain will not be standing in the Clacton by-election triggered by Nigel Farage’s resignation as its MP.
“We are not going to participate in a Reform-sponsored media circus over the summer months that is designed to puff up Farage’s ego and deflect away from wholly fair questions over why he has concealed such vast and irregular financial donations,” he says on X
The other parties should do the same.
I'll draft them a press release...
"Nigel Farage is trying to escape the same scrutiny that all other MPs must be subject to by fake resigning... we will welcome him back to parliament to answer questions as soon as his sham bye-election is out of the way. The funds of >insert party name< members will not be wasted in Clacton this summer. We look forward to contesting the seat at a future election, by which time we hope Nigel Farage will have been fully investigated and dealt with."
Rupert Lowe has said Restore Britain will not be standing in the Clacton by-election triggered by Nigel Farage’s resignation as its MP.
I've just seen a Lowe FB post where he says..
Restore Britain will stand in the Clacton by-election. Not the first Farage has just called, but the second one, held later this year, when the investigations into Farage’s finances conclude as we all suspect it will.
We are not going to participate in a Reform-sponsored media circus over the summer months that is designed to puff up Farage’s ego and deflect away from wholly fair questions over why he has concealed such vast and irregular financial donations.
Farage can play with his toys for the next six weeks, but Restore Britain is going to continue producing detailed policy papers, exactly as we have been, outlining how we can fix our country.
That is what I am interested in.
Detail. Data. Policy.
A plan.
I feel for the people of Clacton who deserve so much better than this unnecessary sham forced on them throughout their summer.
The other parties should do the same.
But all the cranks and loons should be encouraged to stand. The sight of Farage stood on stage surrounded only by a bloke with a bucket on his head and someone else with massive oversized glasses and boppers could be a lasting image for the ages.
Or all the main parties sit it out and a Martin Bell style candidate stands. But this is Clacton - not sure they'd get it.
Looks like none of the other parties will stand - so it will be Farage against Binface and a grab-bag of other fringe candidates
https://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3mq32xt3prs2a
Vote Binface!
But this is Clacton - not sure they'd get it.
But even if they don’t it makes Farage look ridiculous - can’t say “it’s me against the establishment” if they decline to participate, and in any case being re-elected does nothing to stop the parliamentary standards committee investigation.
It isn’t impossible that this ends up with Binface in parliament, and Farage gone.
It isn’t impossible that this ends up with Binface in parliament, and Farage gone.
That really would be the ultimate FAFO, I so want that to happen.
How much have Reform cost the UK in terms of by-elections?
Not sure how many of their newly-elected councillors stepped down shortly after the elections, maybe finding out that local government work is not all glamorous but now there's a much higher profile one, more expense again.
Also - what happens if Farage wins? He's stepped down, he gets re-elected, pops back into Parliament and they promptly say "welcome back, let's pick up that investigation where we left off". What then, he resigns again?
