What’s the best way to challenge Farage and Reform electorally in Clacton?

To create a mass socialist party that confronts their xenophobia, provides serious alternatives and campaigns on a socialist basis.

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By Alan Story 

It was a warm and sunny day here in Suffolk on Monday. We were experiencing --- and still are --- the type of seasonal weather THE DAILY EXPRESS would headline as “AFRICAN INFERNO UNLEASHED IN EAST ANGLIA. “

Ever since the 4^th of July election was called, I’ve been spending too much time inside on the keyboard. Instead, I longed to spend more time outside chatting with the folks on the streets.  

So it felt like a good day to hit the road and to pop down to the Essex coastal town of Clacton-on-Sea ( usually shortened to Clacton)  where Nigel Farage, the well-known cheeky right-wing Reform Party leader, is making his eighth attempt to win a seat in Parliament. [The cover photo shows a recent Farage rally in the town.] Upon arriving in Clacton, I hoped that an idea for a story would emerge and, as you will soon find out, it did.

My first stop at Farage’s campaign headquarters, situated above an amusement arcade near a long and wide North Sea beach, did not go as planned.

Farage’s campaign headquarters in Clacton are located above an amusement arcade.  

I went upstairs not anticipating an encounter with Farage himself; he rarely shows up there. But I did want to get a copy of his election literature for Reform and perhaps grab a quote or two from his aides on why they thought their man was somewhat ahead in the polls for Clacton.  (Local residents tell me the constituency is a two-horse race between the incumbent Tory MP and Farage; on 26 June, it was reported that the Labour candidate had been “instructed” to campaign in another constituency.)

Once I identified myself as a journalist --- and without making any cheeky remarks about being from THE LEFT LANE (ha! ha!) --- I was promptly told by the Reformers: “you’re not allowed in here…out now ...no press…we get terrible coverage.”

A SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT

Terrible coverage? Farage and his mates have clearly developed a sense of entitlement. Featured on the front pages of national newspapers all weekend AND frequently slotted as the first or second item on the television news AND being attacked by Sunak, Starmer and Davey simultaneously for his remarks on the Russian invasion of Ukraine is NOT what I would categorise as “ terrible coverage.” George Galloway, Farage’s counterpart, might even be envious. (I learned afterwards that Farage has angrily dispatched his libel lawyers up against THE DAILY MAIL --- often seen as his own personal propaganda arm --- for what he called a “breach of the editor’s code.”)         

But no worries. My primary objective today is to talk with the good folk of Clacton. Over the next four hours, I chatted with about 20 people at three locations across this town of approximately 53,000 people, which was once a leading resort and beach holiday spot.

Forget stereotypes. Yes, I did meet an above percentage of Clactonians who are definitely right-wing. A number, for example, told me “the usuals” about immigrants: “they are taking our jobs”, “they’ve meant lower wages for the English”, “I have to drive 85 miles to see a dentist” (because of immigrants is implied). Mind you, the number of non-British people here is almost non-existent and the population is more than 95% white.

Said another interviewee: “There are already too many people here, this is a small country.” I counter with “so is the Netherlands”, but it soon seemed pointless. More than one person told me “Farage will shake things up.”

Occasionally it got downright comical. One 85-year-old man from nearby Holland-on-Sea told me, “I served in Suez (in 1956) and was in the National Service. None of those Windrush people did National Service, you know.” I replied, “well I do know they were driving buses in London and working in the NHS soon after they arrived.” He walked off. Discussion over.  

FARAGE MEANS “TROUBLE AHEAD”  

But I also met numbers of people who, if Farage wins here next week, are not looking forward to having him as their local MP. More than one expressed a view equating Farage with “trouble ahead.” Said one chap as he passed by “Farage is a c*nt.”  Another was worried the far-right English Defence League might return to Clacton.  

I got into one protracted discussion with a fellow named Craig that really made my day. When I told him some of the negative remarks about immigrants I had heard from locals, he looked me straight in the eye and said: “you can’t argue with stupid.”  

He is worried about issues such as climate change and is worried about Clacton’s future. Studies show the town has a very high percentage of people aged over 65 and “the highest levels of economic inactivity of any constituency in England and Wales.”  I chatted with a fisherman in his 30s who has just lost his business, this in an area that voted almost 80% for Brexit. “Brexit is killing our industry,” he told me.  

And I met a few people who “get” what’s wrong with Starmer: “Starmer is not the answer for working people”, a fellow named Alan told me at the Clacton Railway Club.

Of course I cannot reproduce all of the comments told to me. Most people here, like elsewhere, seem to expect the next government will be a Labour government. But I sensed what might be best described as a “deep sense of unease” about the UK’s future (and Clacton’s as well) among those I talked to.

HOW WOULD A SOCIALIST PARTY TAKE ON FARAGE?

On the journey home in the late afternoon, my thoughts turned to a crucial follow-up question: How would and could a mass socialist party effectively challenge Farage & Reform in Clacton and drive meaningful political change in that community? That’s what the remainder of this article is about.

Before diving into policy discussions, it is vital to address some key organisational foundations.

Firstly, the establishment of a robust socialist party is paramount. Independent left candidates with the influence and profile of a Jeremy Corbyn are scarce. Well-organised parties excel in mobilising experienced canvassers; a substantial team of at least 75 individuals will be essential for making a significant impact in a place like Clacton and across the constituency. Parties are proficient --- or should be! --- in fundraising, possess access to historical election data, carry a recognisable brand, and have the capacity to sustain operations post-election.

Here is a sample campaigning issue. With the current dominance of Farage on platforms such as TikTok, targeting younger voters becomes imperative. Reports indicate that Farage's social media presence on TikTok surpasses that of prominent left figures like Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana of Labour, and Carla Denyer of the Greens combined. This alarming reality underscores the need for a well-organised party to challenge Farage and Reform effectively, rather than relying on individuals like Bill X or Brenda Y and a handful of their mates to slap together a few videos and post them on the Internet.  

Furthermore, elections should be viewed as stepping stones within a broader grassroots movement, not as the sole focus. A meticulously planned election campaign begins months in advance, not as a hastily-arranged effort by a last-minute candidate who felt compelled to run simply because “someone had to do it.” 

ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE CHALLENGES OF A FARAGE

Secondly, the selected candidate must be a respected local activist with a proven track record as a skilled campaigner and capable of withstanding challenges posed by figures like Nigel Farage. They should be a team player free from personal ambitions, with a steadfast commitment to present and future electoral endeavours. Elections lay the foundation for a cause, with the party's significance transcending individual personalities.

In essence, building a potent anti-capitalist movement that instils genuine fear in media moguls, affluent capitalists, and figures such as Keir Starmer demands unwavering dedication and gravity. This endeavour is not for those who treat it lightly. Take a cue from Julian Assange: embrace fearlessness.

Lastly, heed the wisdom of socialist pioneers: their duty is to unite and train the most politically aware individuals, while also winning over the middle ground. This is quite possible in times of growing crisis, such as now, and when many mainstream politicians face widespread disdain. When will the “William Hill Party” emerge, I wonder? And finally it is essential to isolate the most extreme right-wing elements.

In places such as Clacton, there is ample work to be done across all three fronts as evidenced by Monday’s visit,

Now, let's turn to policy matters. A dual-pronged strategy is required. On one hand, a socialist party must directly confront Reform's xenophobic, nationalist rhetoric and its attempts to divert attention from real issues, such as climate change, the cost of living crisis, and the genocide in Gaza. On the other hand, such a party should elevate and address a wide range of issues seldom tackled by mainstream parties and do so in a radical socialist manner. Let's unpack this.

ABSORB THE NEGATIVE LESSONS FROM LABOUR AND GALLOWAY’S PARTY

Both the Labour Party and George Galloway’s outfit, the so-called Workers Party of Britain (WPB), do a terrible job in confronting the racism that lies behind the approach of both the Tories and Reform to the question of immigration. In fact, they do not confront it at all; they reinforce the dominant right-wing approach.

We see Labour in action regularly in the House of Commons. Their criticism of government policy is focused solely on the questions of Tory competence and chaos. Never do we see Starmer or shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stand up and say, “how the UK treats asylum seekers and migrants is an embarrassment and shameful and racist.” They do not want to talk, for example, about opening up legal routes for asylum seekers to come to the UK. Instead, as we’ve seen in this election campaign, Starmer and the Labour Party say the way to end the rising tide of small boats crossing the Channel is to create a stronger border patrol. A bit like Donald Trump saying that the way to stop the flow of migrants coming into the United States from Mexico is to: “BUILD A WALL”.  

Galloway is even worse. Watch this short and nasty YouTube video of Galloway speaking a few months back on the immigration question. Or watch this video (from 28 minutes, 25 seconds to 29 minutes, 5 seconds)   filmed when Galloway spoke a week ago at the launch the WPB’s manifesto. Here is a transcript of his comments:

Galloway speaking: “We can’t stop, yesterday 822 people crossed the English Channel on rubber boats. The Royal Navy, you didn’t have to turn the Nelson’s eye, there were no ships. There were no Royal Navy ships because they’re in the Red Sea, they’re in the Black Sea, they’re in the South China Sea threatening other people rather than defending our own country and our own legitimate interests.”

In a phrase, this is rank nationalism and a crude opportunist attempt to attract the same type of flag-waving voters that Reform has in its sights.  Give us a stronger military is NOT a socialist demand.  

A real socialist party campaigning in Clacton would be oriented in a polar opposite direction, connect the dots, and explain, for example, that escalating climate change in the global South is one of the main explanations for global migration. Not Galloway’s approach. His tribe of followers believes “environmentalism is anti-working class” as THE LEFT LANE reported a few months ago.

THE PLIGHT OF DECLINING COASTAL TOWNS

As suggested above, Clacton represents a struggling coastal town facing economic decline. There are many other coastal towns up and down the Essex coast, such as Basildon, as well as Lowestoft (Suffolk), Great Yarmouth ( Norfolk), Skegness ( Lincolnshire) and other towns along the North Sea that share many of the same characteristics.

These characteristics include: a disproportionately higher percentage of older people than in many other parts of the UK, significantly above average rates of poverty, a scarcity of well-paying jobs, an economy over-reliant on tourism, limited future economic prospects, and a lack of amenities to retain local youth.   

Many countries in the capitalist world experience similar patterns of uneven development and regions in decline while other regions struggle with overcrowding and experience excessive growth, soaring housing costs, and the rest. There are many towns in Atlantic Canada, where I lived for many years, reminiscent of places such as Clacton.  

Neither Farage nor Labour sees capitalism itself as the root problem. Indeed Starmer has been overdosing on the need for more growth and for more wealth creation since the election campaign began. Meanwhile, millions want to talk about wealth redistribution and how to keep growth under control.

Such matters do not register on the radar of former metal trader and right-wing populist Farage. He likely blames  Clacton’s decline on too many immigrants arriving from Afghanistan when, in fact, the main influx of outsiders is from East London.

This article is already too long and there is not the space here to explain how the current economic plight of Clacton is best understood by understanding the structural contradictions of capitalism. But this is precisely the task a mass socialist party would need to undertake.

ISSUES SELDOM RAISED

There are so many issues that are all but ignored in general elections. Here are a few examples:    

1)  Gaza: it was great to see the large and noisy rally last night (26 June) in Nottingham outside the TV debate between Sunak and Starmer by pro-Palestine and pro-ceasefire demonstrators. At election time, people can be more open about discussing political issues and the Israeli genocide has been one of the leading global political issues of the day.  A mass socialist party would do all it could to put Gaza on the election agenda and learn from/ work with local and national Palestine Solidarity groups.    

2) Disability: there are more than 16 million people in the United Kingdom who, in their daily life, face a wide range of disabling conditions. Yet in the campaign for the current general election, disability has scandalously been a non-issue. Back in May, THE LEFT LANE carried this piece on some of the questions at stake and this week’s BIG ISSUE has published an article on “Britain’s broken welfare system.”  A new mass socialist party would be right in the midst of campaigning on disability issues and adding a socialist analysis. 

3) Environmental issues: it is pretty difficult to have a discussion about the leading political issues of the day and ignore a wide range of environmental issues, including climate change, the disgusting pollution of our lakes and rivers, and the quality of the air we breathe. Mind you, Labour and the Tories do their best to relegate such matters to the “add-on” list. Yes, the Greens do raise environmental issues, but they do not frame them as a question of eco-socialism. That’s another job for a mass socialist party.

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I am not saying a candidate for a serious mass socialist party would, if such a party existed, win in Clacton in 2024. Without a change to proportional representation (PR) voting, this would be unlikely. In any event, running in Clacton might not even be a priority. But if it did run and campaigned with some verve and passion, it could at least expose what Farage and Reform are all about, not lose its deposit … and get ready for 5 July.  It’s a vision thing.

CHECK THIS OUT

A first reminder:  

Fancy attending a post-election discussion on Zoom? Then you are invited to THE LEFT LANE’s Open Mic session on 5 July at 5:00 p.m.

By 10:00 on the morning of 5 July, the 2024 election and its results will be history. So what comes next? You are invited to join a 60 minute-Zoom session at 5:00 p.m. on 5 July to discuss the election.

There should be plenty to talk about. No “big name” speakers, just a good discussion and debate (we hope) among progressives and activists about the impact and meaning of the election.

Here is how to get the Zoom link: 1) Send an email to: theleftlanepolitics@gmail.com; 2) Put: “5 July Zoom” in the subject line; 3) We will send you the link.  

Deadline for requests: 12 noon on 5 July.   

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Edited by Alan Story, THE LEFT LANE is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber:  http://theleftlane2024.substack.com/subscribe

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Thanks to Tina Werkmann and Holly Donovan for their editorial assistance.