The criticism comes after The Mirror revealed the Reform UK leader has trousered thousands in cash and jetted more than 50,000 miles across the globe since the election
12:52, 09 Jan 2026
Residents of Nigel Farage’s Clacton constituency don’t think he’s around enough and have described him as a “rude, ignorant man”.
The criticism comes after The Mirror revealed the Reform UK leader has trousered thousands in cash and jetted more than 50,000 miles across the globe since the election - including a VIP trip to watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Speaking to locals, they questioned what difference Mr Farage had actually made to the area, accused him of being “false”, while one who had backed Reform UK at the general election said he wouldn’t do so again.
Retired Jonathan Roberts, 6 told the Daily Mirror he’d never actually seen Mr Farage, and accused him of using Clacton for his own agenda. He said: “He doesn’t really see much of the constituency, allegedly, he spends a lot of time abroad, in the US and things like that.
"He hasn’t really done much noticeably for the constituency. What does he do on these trips, apart from boost his ego? That doesn’t do much for Clacton, I’m not impressed.
“He uses Clacton for his own political purposes, it doesn’t seem as if he has much interest in representing the interests of the constituents. His politics don’t really represent the interests of the constituents. His politics are not for Clacton.” Asked to sum him up in one word, he joked “I think you know what that is”.
There was also condemnation from retired couple Tom Wade, 86 and Heather Wade, 83, with both ruling out voting for him. Mirror reader Heather said: “He’s a rude, ignorant man. I will never vote for him. He’s up Trump’s arse.” Asked about the trips, she said: “It is a problem for me, he’s not down here with the people enough. I will not ever vote for him.”
Tom was more sympathetic, but still refused to back Mr Farage. He said: “He hasn’t been there long enough to pass judgement. I haven’t seen enough of his successes. Time will tell. I wouldn’t vote for him tomorrow, there’s not enough there for me at the moment.”
They both claimed Mr Farage wasn’t a good person, with Tom describing him as “very false, there’s a real falseness there. I’m an Irishman, and I do like a pint of Guinness, but every time I see this guy, he’s got a bloody Guinness up in his throat. I don’t think that does him much good. His laugh is such a bloody false laugh.” Heather added: “He’s out to line his own pocket."
Entertainment manager John Roat had backed Reform UK in the general election, but the 49-year-old ruled out doing so again. He explained: “I did vote for him, I don’t think he’s done much at the moment. Overall, he’s not really changed too much in Clacton, there’s still a lot of unemployment, in the winter it’s terrible, I don’t see much change.
“I did see him when he started voting, but I haven’t seen him recently, it’s like he’s doing more stuff away from Clacton. He should be here really. If there is money to be spent, it should be spent on Clacton rather than being out and about in America and stuff.”
Asked to describe him in one word, he said: "I'd say marmite. Most people either hate him or you love, and I'm sort of in the middle. I don't think I'd vote for him again."
Andrew Langdale, 56, parts manager in a car dealership, described Mr Farage as a “character”, but insisted he had seen him around.
He said: “I’ve definitely seen him around the constituency, seen him more than Giles Watling, who was our previous MP in the area. I am indifferent, I don’t really have any political bias, so not swayed one way or the other really.
“My mum and dad always used to say if a politician is opening their mouth, they are probably not telling the truth. Having lived in Clacton all my life, it’s definitely gone downhill, but having travelled locally to other seaside resorts as well, it’s all seaside towns run down. It’s not just a Clacton thing.”
Responding to the Mirror's story on his trips, a spokesman for Mr Farage insisted he was an "active Member of Parliament for Clacton". They said: "He makes regular donations to charities and good causes, writes a column for the local newspaper and will host a Clacton business surgery in the constituency next week.
"As the leader of a national political party leading in the last 185 opinion polls, he has also voted more times in the House of Commons than Kemi and Keir put together since July 2024. Every single voter in Clacton will be the judge of Nigel’s record at the next general election — not Daily Mirror reporters or opposition councillors with an axe to grind.”