‘He’s going to walk it!’ Immigration driving support for Farage as Clacton voters warn UK reaching ‘bursting point’

Immigration was the main issue raised by residents, with the cost-of-living crisis and net zero also emerging as salient issues.

Reform UK’s leader told constituents that Rishi Sunak’s Tories will pay a “big price” for their handling of immigration.

Farage vowed to “reduce net migration to zero” and “stop the boats” within 100 days of coming to power with a six-point plan.

The 60-year-old, who described July 4 as the “Immigration Election”, appears to have cut through with constituents across Clacton.

Speaking hours before Farage’s arrival, Andrew Humphries told GB News: “Immigration is a massive thing, especially how it impacts on the rest of society.

“I’ve been waiting for a couple of years now for housing. My family has been here for 40 years and I’ve seen the decline of the town.

“You’ve got to help your own first before you look out for others.”

Humphries, who described himself as typically a non-voter, claimed there is a “good chance” Farage will win and argued the two-party system is broken.

Former Brightlinsea Mayor Ben Smith also said: “They shouldn’t be coming from France. France is a democratic country. What is the need to cross the Channel from one democratic country to another? It’s because of the benefits system. If they’re searching for asylum, and I know some of them have a really bad time, then it should be the first democratic country they reach.”

Smith’s pal, retired police officer Colin Spikesley, added: “Nigel Farage is going to walk it. Look around you. He’s charismatic, a good orator. We just came for the hoot and we cannot wait.”

Steve Schaffer, who moved to Clacton in 1957, also explained his support for Farage.

“This is only a small country,” he claimed. “We’re struggling. We can’t build enough homes. The schools and hospitals are full. It’s reaching bursting point. We’ve got to stop it or slow it down somehow.”

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“Over the last 10 years the Tories have been going downhill. I’ve voted Tory since 1964 but today they don’t do anything. They’re not going to put people in planes to go to Rwanda because we are still tied to a European court.”

Directly addressing illegal immigration, Sandra Deville-Leggett told GB News: “The Channel crossings worry me more than anything. You feel sorry for them but a lot of them are young men, they throw away their passports, how do we know who’s coming in?”

Andy Knoyle added: “Immigration is the biggest issue. You can’t sustain these numbers. 685,000 net last year. 2.4 million over 10 years. No country, perhaps besides America, can put up with that. The Tories don’t seem alarmed or concerned about these numbers.

“I believe Farage will be for the people. He knows our needs. He’s got his finger on the pulse, whether it’s debanking, net zero, immigration, the boats, he knows what to do.”

He also stressed Farage was the man to make a success of Brexit, arguing: “What’s happened with Brexit, Brexit in name only, you can tell we haven’t done it right. Farage is the man to do it right.”

Clacton was one of the most pro-leave seats in the country in 2016, with almost 70 per cent voting to cut ties with the Brussels bloc.

Despite witnessing a dip immediately after the 2016 referendum, the salience of immigration has soared in recent years.

Immigration and asylum is the third most important issue in the minds of Britons, analysis by YouGov has shown.

The significance increases drastically among both 2019 Tory voters and 2016 Brexit backers.

Clacton also emerged as the most migration-sceptic seat in England and Wales, with a Stack Data Strategy survey finding 67 per cent of constituents support reduced numbers and tightened restrictions.

However, local Conservative MP Giles Watling believes he has the answer to the Channel crossing crisis.

Watling, who was returned in 2019 with a majority over 24,000, told GB News: “I’m better placed than Nigel Farage to deal with this. I've actually got an active plan. We need take this whole issue out of the hands of the Home Office and give it to the Ministry of Defence. I regard this as a Defence of the Realm issue. The MoD have greater powers.

“We also need to negotiate with our French counterparts. I was scheduled to meet with the Mayor of Calais to talk about this. They can help us persuade French central Government to pursue greater cooperation between French and British forces. What we need is British boots on the ground in France.”

The 71-year-old, who claimed turning the boats around is not an option, added: “We already have the technology, we already have the drones. We can stop these boats before they even arrive at the beaches. Then all it takes is a knife to destroy the boats and remove the engines. If we did that for a week or two, the problem with Channel crossings would be resolved.”

Despite Watling’s comments, net migration hit 685,000 in 2023, with 29,437 asylum seekers making the perilous 21-mile journey during the same 12 months.

There seems a high level of pessimism about Sunak’s Rwanda plan resulting in much change.

The Prime Minister, who was facing parliamentary ping-pong and legal challenges before passing his flagship policy, recently admitted no asylum seekers would go to Rwanda before July 4.

However, not everyone raised immigration as the main issue ahead of the election.

Mick Page, who will “probably” vote for Reform UK, said: “The biggest issue is we are committing suicide by pursuing net zero.”

Rozerin Altin, who was just 18, added: “I’m the oldest of six girls. I don’t want little boys going into girls’ changing rooms. I care about women’s rights. If you care about that then you should vote for Reform UK.”

And it appeared Farage is filling a vacuum with disaffected voters turning their backs on the two-largest parties.

Hillary Chapman told GB News: “I’m very happy. I hope Nigel wins. It will hopefully bring a change to politics in general. He’s true to his word and he’s in line with the common people. Mr Starmer doesn’t look you in the eye, and Mr Sunak is too rich to be Prime Minister.”

Brian Roberts, who explained his father was evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940, added: “I thought his speech on Monday was absolutely brilliant. I suppose you can say he’s a bit of a political messiah. It was Churchillian and nobody else seems to be that. I don’t think anyone else will be able to live with him when it comes to the debates.”

Owen Longman, a leave-voter, also said: “If Nigel’s wins and works with Labour, he could help get this country back on its feet.”

Longman’s traditionally Tory-supporting friend Nigel Clark added: “It’s just about shaking up politics altogether.”

However, not everyone was particularly supportive of Farage’s bid to become Clacton MP.

Labour supporter Arvinder Khaihra, who vowed to vote tactically to keep Farage out, said: “I wouldn’t vote for him at all because he likes Trump and he’s a lunatic.”

Tony Smith added: “He’s a joke. What’s this his eighth time running? He won’t get my vote. I used to vote Conservative but the Conservatives haven’t done what they say.”

There was also a small group of protesters gathered by Clacton Pier as Farage delivered his speech.

Tim Morris, who made a banner which said “FARAGE NOT WELCOME HERE”, told GB News that the new Reform UK leader's support for Brexit was a driving force in his decision to protest.

“I don’t agree with Farage’s politics at all,” he said. “He’s very divisive for the country, stirring up hatred and division, and I particularly don’t like the fact that he was instrumental in pushing for Brexit. That’s been a mess and I think a majority of the country wish we didn’t leave.”

Morris would prefer to vote for an anti-Farage unity candidate but revealed he might consider the “very painful choice” of Watling to keep the Reform UK leader away from Westminster.

Opposition to Farage was almost insignificant compared to the number of supporters gathered for the Brexit stalwart in Clacton, excluding a yell: “Who elected you as leader, Farage?”

However, there was an incident outside the Moon & Starfish pub where Farage was drenched with a milkshake for the second time in recent years.

Crowds swarmed to greet Farage in the seaside town, with the Reform UK leader getting bundled into his car while loyal fans hoped to grab selfies and shake his hand.

Farage fever continued later with a number of punters offering to buy the 60-year-old a pint in the local Wetherspoons.

National polls now suggest Reform UK could breakthrough into Westminster, with the Tories facing a wipeout worse than 1997.

However, MRP polls on Clacton have produced mixed predictions.

YouGov suggested Watling would cling on with 42 per cent as Labour languished in second on 27 per cent.

The survey, conducted ahead of Farage’s announcement, had Reform UK third on 20 per cent.

However, an opinion poll released in January might help explain why Farage opted to stand in Clacton.

The opinion poll, also conducted by Survation, found the former Brexit Party leader would pick up 37 per cent, with Watling’s support collapsing to just 27 per cent.

Labour candidate Jovan Owusu-Nepaul, who came out on top in Survation’s latest survey, has vowed to provide “the fresh start Clacton and the villages need” after the Tories have taken our country for granted, not understanding the real issues”.

The Liberal Democrats have put up local councillor Matthew Bensilum and the Green Party is being represented by Natasha Osben.

Osben stood as Labour’s candidate in 2017 but defected as the Greens became the “only party that is genuinely committed to bringing about the changes our country needs”.

In response to Farage announcing he would stand in Clacton on Monday, Osben said: “The people of Clacton deserve better than to be used as a springboard for career politicians like Farage.”