He claims he could be prime minister in 2029 but first he has to become an MP. Will it be eighth time lucky for Reform’s leader? Esther Addley reports
When Nigel Farage arrived in Clacton to launch his campaign to become the Essex constituency’s new MP, he was greeted with an adoring crowd – and a milkshake in the face. But what happened when the Farage fans and cameras went home? Will Clacton’s residents really give Farage a Westminster seat on his eighth attempt?
Esther Addley, the Guardian’s senior news writer, has been visiting the town since the Reform UK leader announced his candidacy to find out why he feels his brand of populism could find a home there. She spoke to people who felt he was divisive and wanted him gone, while others felt he understood them and their worries in a way that other politicians did not.