Clacton by-election was not a reflection of EU support - Yorkshire Post Letters

From: Peter Brown, Cleckheaton.

Tony Galbraith fools no one by suggesting a few hundred votes for a fringe candidate in Clacton measures opposition to Brexit (The Yorkshire Post, August 22).

Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Green Party supporters overwhelmingly back EU membership — typically between 75 and 85 per cent.

Brexit cuts across many voter priorities: for example, the economy, public services funding, employment, defence cooperation, consumer rights, ease of travel, immigration and border controls, and opportunities for young people.

The challenge is getting MPs and party leaders at Westminster to better reflect voters’ opinions. As the only major English party to explicitly back rejoining the European Union, the Greens are set to be big beneficiaries if neither Labour nor the Lib Dems have had a big rethink before the next general election.

Clacton wasn’t a typical by-election. It was a stunt sparked by an arrogant and elitist Nigel Farage believing himself above proper parliamentary scrutiny over his £5m “gift” from an overseas crypto-billionaire. For a man who spent years championing UK parliamentary supremacy over Brussels, claiming its rules do not apply to him was hypocrisy of the highest order.

If I do something criminal, can we skip the judge and jury nonsense and just ask for a ruling from my family and friends? Preferably, without showing them any evidence?

The major parties rightly refused to validate Mr Farage’s subversion, leaving the field open to fringe candidates chasing their 15 minutes of fame - capped by Mr Farage refusing to attend the declaration, thus keeping the spotlight on Count Binface.

With the standards investigation resumed, the stunt backfired. It wasted around £250,000 of public money and shone an even harsher light on Reform UK’s murky finances.