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‘It’s no joke!’ Clacton voters can put reversing Brexit back on the table, says ex-MEP running against Farage
John Stevens, a former Conservative MEP standing for the Rejoin the EU Party in the Clacton by-election, has argued that the contest offers a genuine opportunity to push the case for rejoining the EU, rather than being merely a media sideshow pitting Nigel Farage against comedian candidate Count Binface. He told The Independent that local voters resent being portrayed as the butt of an "inside Westminster joke", and claims that a strong anti-Brexit vote would damage Farage and Reform far more than any humiliation by a novelty candidate, potentially emboldening mainstream parties to reconsider EU membership.
Stevens, a City trader-turned-politician who served as a Conservative MEP until 1999, acknowledged the scale of the challenge given Clacton voted 70 per cent for Leave in 2016, with Essex backing Leave by 62 per cent overall, while suggesting Farage is seeking "North Korean levels of support" of 95 per cent or more. He said canvassing had revealed some residents, particularly younger people and women on newer estates, now question whether Brexit has worked, and argued that Remainers must avoid blaming Leave voters and instead adopt a reconciliatory tone. He also claimed Labour backbenchers privately favour rejoining, despite Andy Burnham distancing himself from earlier pro-rejoin comments while campaigning in the pro-Leave Makerfield seat.
In short
- Ex-MEP John Stevens stands for Rejoin the EU Party in Clacton by-election.
- He says a strong anti-Brexit vote would hurt Farage more than Binface's campaign.
- Clacton voted 70% Leave in 2016; Stevens hopes to shift the debate.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Democracy should allow voters to reconsider major decisions as circumstances change and evidence emerges. Eight years after the referendum, younger voters and those assessing Brexit's actual impact now question whether it was the right choice. Treating this democratic concern as a joke disrespects voters and prevents serious engagement with their genuine reassessment.
The case against
The 2016 referendum delivered a clear democratic mandate—70% of Clacton voters and majorities nationally backed leaving the EU. Continually reopening settled questions undermines democratic legitimacy and prevents the country from moving forward on actual governing challenges. Voters are focused on immediate concerns like the economy and public services, not relitigating past referenda.
Explained simply
Clacton, a seaside constituency in Essex, is holding a by-election contested by Nigel Farage, founder of Reform UK, and John Stevens, a former Conservative MEP standing for the Rejoin the EU Party. The race has also attracted Count Binface, a comedian running as a novelty candidate, whose candidacy has generated substantial media attention.
Clacton voted strongly for Brexit in 2016, with roughly 70 per cent backing the referendum to leave the European Union. The UK has since left the EU, though debate continues about whether Britain should rejoin, which remains a significant political issue.
Stevens has argued that the by-election offers an opportunity to focus on whether Brexit has benefited Clacton voters, rather than being dominated by novelty candidates. He contends that some voters, particularly younger people and women, now question whether Brexit has worked, and that a strong vote against Farage could encourage mainstream political parties to reconsider their stance on EU membership.
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