2014 Clacton by-election

UK parliamentary by-election April 2020 2014 Clacton by-election United Kingdom parliamentary Clacton constituency no 2010 United Kingdom general election 2010 2014 10 09 y 2015 United Kingdom general election 2015 64.2% File:Douglas Carswell (16317339757) (cropped).jpg Douglas Carswell UK Independence Party 21,113 59.7% New File:Official portrait of Giles Watling crop 2.jpg Giles Watling Conservative Party (UK) 8,709 24.6% 28.4 pp 110px Tim Young Labour Party (UK) 3,957 11.2% 13.8 pp MP Douglas Carswell Conservative Party (UK) Elected MP Douglas Carswell UK Independence Party A by-election for the United Kingdom parliamentary constituency of Clacton was held on 9 October 2014. It was triggered by incumbent Conservative Party MP Douglas Carswell defecting to the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and subsequently resigning his seat to seek re-election as its candidate. Carswell retained the seat with 59.7% of the vote, becoming UKIP's first elected MP. The Conservatives came second, and Labour third. UKIP's result was the biggest increase in the share of the vote for any party in any by-election in history, according to John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University. A by-election in Heywood and Middleton was held on the same day. Background On 28 August 2014, Douglas Carswell, a Eurosceptic Conservative backbencher, announced his defection to UKIP and said that he was resigning his seat in order to fight a by-election. He said he did not think Prime Minister David Cameron was "serious about the change we need", adding that "many of those at the top of the Conservative Party are simply not on our side" and "Of course they talk the talk before elections. They say what they feel they must say to get our support when they want our support, but on so many issues – on modernising our politics, on the recall of MPs, on controlling our borders, on less government, on bank reform, on cutting public debt, on an EU referendum – they never actually make it happen".https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28967904 Tory MP Douglas Carswell defects to UKIP and forces by-election 28 August 2014 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20200422133403/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28967904 live 22 April 2020 22 April 2020. He also said: "...local issues regarding planning and overcrowding of GP surgeries were a factor in my decision to resign".http://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11439315._Local_issues_affected_my_decision__claims_Carswell_following_defection_to_UKIP/?ref=var_0 "Local issues affected my decision" claims Carswell following defection to UKIP James Dwan 28 August 2014 Clacton and Frinton Gazette https://web.archive.org/web/20200422185234/https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11439315.local-issues-affected-my-decision-claims-carswell-following-defection-to-ukip/ live 22 April 2020 22 April 2020 Responding to the news that Carswell had defected and would trigger a by-election, Cameron said the contest would be held "as soon as possible". He also confirmed that the Conservatives would contest the by-election.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28967904 Tory MP Douglas Carswell defects to UKIP and forces by-election BBC News 28 August 2014 25 August 2016 It was later announced that the by-election would be held on 9 October.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29029022 Clacton by-election to be held on 9 October 2 September 2014 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20200428144659/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29029022 live 28 April 2020 28 April 2020 The poll was one of two parliamentary by-elections the same day, with an election also being held in the constituency of Heywood and Middleton following the death of its MP, Jim Dobbin of the Labour Party.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29530559 Clacton and Heywood and Middleton by-elections: Last day of campaigning 8 October 2014 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20200428144932/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29530559 live 28 April 2020 28 April 2020 Analysis of demographics for the constituency prior to the by-election were said to make it the most UKIP-friendly in the country.https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-politics/ukip-poised-to-snare-first-parliament-seat-in-blow-to-cameron-idUKKCN0HX2H420141008 UKIP poised to snare first parliament seat in blow to Cameron Osborn Andrew 9 October 2014 Reuters https://web.archive.org/web/20200428144412/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-politics/ukip-poised-to-snare-first-parliament-seat-in-blow-to-cameron-idUKKCN0HX2H420141008 dead 28 April 2020 28 April 2020 Previous result General election 2010: Clactonhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b14.stm Clacton 2010 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20200430180947/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b14.stm live 30 April 2020 30 April 2020 UKIP did not stand a candidate against Douglas Carswell in 2010, citing his Eurosceptic views.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7585903/Ukips-Lord-Pearson-says-supporters-should-vote-for-up-to-15-candidates-from-main-parties.html Ukip's Lord Pearson says supporters should vote for up to 15 candidates from main parties Hope Christopher 13 April 2010 The Telegraph https://web.archive.org/web/20200430181434/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7585903/Ukips-Lord-Pearson-says-supporters-should-vote-for-up-to-15-candidates-from-main-parties.html live 30 April 2020 30 April 2020 Conservative Party (UK) Douglas Carswell 22,867 53.0 8.6 Labour Party (UK) Ivan Henderson 10,799 25.0 10.9 Liberal Democrats (UK) Michael Green 5,577 12.9 0.6 British National Party Jim Taylor 1,975 4.6 New Tendring First Terry Allen 1,078 2.5 New Green Party of England and Wales Chris Southall 535 1.2 New Independent politician Chris Humphrey 292 0.7 New 12,068 28.0 19.5 43,123 64.2 1.6 Conservative Party (UK) 9.7 Reaction Conservative Most Conservatives condemned Carswell's defection, but some were more supportive of his decision.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28967959 Douglas Carswell: Reaction as Tory MP defects to UKIP 28 August 2014 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20200501134336/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28967959 live 1 May 2020 1 May 2020 Cameron called the resignation "deeply regrettable"; he also argued that it was counter-productive, on the grounds that only a Conservative government after the next general election could deliver a referendum on British membership of the EU – an argument echoed by many Conservative MPs, such as Mark Pritchard, Bernard Jenkin and Nigel Evans. A spokesman for the party said that the Conservatives would contest the by-election. Evans also suggested, however, that the Conservatives should consider not standing in the by-election, which he called "a total distraction",https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/31/tories-ukip-clacton-byelection-douglas-carswell Tories should give Ukip free run in Clacton, MP suggests Watt Nicholas The Guardian 31 August 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20200430181809/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/31/tories-ukip-clacton-byelection-douglas-carswell live 30 April 2020 30 April 2020 while the backbencher Zac Goldsmith described Carswell as a "model Parliamentarian" and remarked that "I have nothing but admiration for him".https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/11060963/Douglas-Carswells-shock-defection-to-Ukip-triggers-by-election-battle.html Douglas Carswell's shock defection to Ukip triggers by-election battle Swinford Steven Holehouse Matthew 28 August 2014 The Daily Telegraph https://web.archive.org/web/20200422185747/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/11060963/Douglas-Carswells-shock-defection-to-Ukip-triggers-by-election-battle.html live 22 April 2020 22 April 2020 The former Conservative minister Norman Tebbit refused to campaign against Carswell and said "[t]he House of Commons needs men of his quality".http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/normantebbit/100284355/the-house-of-commons-needs-men-like-douglas-carswell-i-would-not-campaign-against-him/ The House of Commons needs men like Douglas Carswell: I would not campaign against him Tebbit Norman 28 August 2014 The Telegraph https://web.archive.org/web/20140831003309/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/normantebbit/100284355/the-house-of-commons-needs-men-like-douglas-carswell-i-would-not-campaign-against-him/ dead 31 August 2014 30 April 2020 Nick Herbert, a Conservative MP and former policing minister, criticised the Conservative Party for being, in his view, more concerned with the Clacton by-election rather than winning the Scottish independence referendum, which was held on 18 September 2014,https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29270441 Scottish referendum: Scotland votes 'No' to independence 19 September 2014 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20200430175921/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29270441 live 30 April 2020 30 April 2020 during the Clacton campaign.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11107017/Tory-MPs-expected-to-buy-ice-creams-in-Clacton-instead-of-going-to-Scotland.html Tory MPs expected to 'buy ice-creams in Clacton' instead of going to Scotland Swinford Steven 18 September 2014 The Daily Telegraph https://web.archive.org/web/20200422185942/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11107017/Tory-MPs-expected-to-buy-ice-creams-in-Clacton-instead-of-going-to-Scotland.html live 22 April 2020 22 April 2020 During the campaign, on 27 September 2014, a second Conservative MP and close friend of Carswell's, Mark Reckless, likewise defected to UKIP and sought re-election in a by-election for his constituency of Rochester and Strood in Kent.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-29395030 Conservative MP Mark Reckless defects to UKIP 27 September 2014 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20200430175541/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-29395030 live 30 April 2020 30 April 2020 Other reactions Labour Party leader Ed Miliband called Carswell's resignation "a blow for David Cameron", and said that it showed that the Conservative Party was divided. Bob Russell, the Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester (which borders the constituency of Clacton), stated that the resignation was a "huge embarrassment" for the party and that Carswell was "far to the right of the party". UKIP's result was the biggest increase in the share of a vote for any party in any by-election in history, according to John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University.https://www.ft.com/content/b912186e-504f-11e4-8645-00144feab7de Ukip surge sends tremors through Westminster Pickard Jim Odell Mark 10 October 2014 Financial Times subscription 22 April 2020 Candidates UKIP Carswell announced that he would stand again for the seat as UKIP's candidate, although he was opposed by the recently selected UKIP candidate, the councillor Roger Lord.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/11065185/Douglas-Carswell-is-a-gutless-coward-says-ousted-UKIP-candidate-Roger-Lord.html 'Douglas Carswell is a gutless coward' says ousted UKIP candidate Roger Lord Holehouse Matthew 29 August 2014 The Telegraph https://web.archive.org/web/20200501160820/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/11065185/Douglas-Carswell-is-a-gutless-coward-says-ousted-UKIP-candidate-Roger-Lord.html live 1 May 2020 1 May 2020 Lord had previously contested three general elections as the UKIP candidate; North Essex in 1997, Colchester in 2001 and Braintree in 2005. Some local activists speculated that they might not adopt Carswell; Anne Poonian, the secretary of the Clacton UKIP association, was quoted by BuzzFeed saying that, although she welcomed Carswell's decision to defect, he may not be selected.https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/ukips-clacton-candidate-says-he-wont-stand-down-for-douglas UKIP's Clacton Candidate Says He Won't Stand Down For Douglas Carswell Waterson Jim 28 August 2014 BuzzFeed News https://web.archive.org/web/20200423093530/https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/ukips-clacton-candidate-says-he-wont-stand-down-for-douglas live 23 April 2020 23 April 2020 'Carswell's taking a very big risk for getting in for a little party. We may not adopt him as our candidate, who knows? He has to be adopted by us, the local association. At the moment he's just an unemployed MP. Who knows whether he'll be adopted?' However, UKIP rules for selecting by-election candidates invested the decision with the party's National Executive Committee, which selected Carswell.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28977961 Stuart Wheeler: More Tory defections to UKIP 'odds on' BBC News 29 August 2014 25 August 2016http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story/44030/ukip_candidate_blasts_stupid_carswell.html Ukip candidate blasts 'stupid' Carswell 29 August 2014 PoliticsHome https://web.archive.org/web/20140903131533/http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story/44030/ukip_candidate_blasts_stupid_carswell.html dead 3 September 2014 23 April 2020 Lord left UKIP and resigned his County Council seat, supporting the Liberal Democrats in the council by-election.http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/politics-old/essex_ukip_county_councillor_roger_lord_resigns_after_being_deselected_as_clacton_election_candidate_1_3755662 Essex: UKIP county councillor Roger Lord resigns after being deselected as Clacton election candidate Lodge Will 3 September 2014 East Anglian Daily Times https://web.archive.org/web/20140905023744/http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/politics-old/essex_ukip_county_councillor_roger_lord_resigns_after_being_deselected_as_clacton_election_candidate_1_3755662 dead 5 September 2014 23 April 2020 Conservative There was speculation that Boris Johnson, the Conservative Mayor of London, would seek the candidacy at the by-election. On 29 August 2014, The Daily Telegraph journalist Peter Oborne wrote: "David Cameron should go down on his knees and beg Boris Johnson to stand as the Conservative Party's candidate for Clacton in the coming by-election."http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/peteroborne/100284436/why-david-cameron-must-beg-boris-johnson-to-fight-in-calcton/ Why David Cameron must beg Boris Johnson to fight in Clacton Oborne Peter 29 August 2014 The Daily Telegraph https://web.archive.org/web/20141017021923/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/peteroborne/100284436/why-david-cameron-must-beg-boris-johnson-to-fight-in-calcton/ dead 17 October 2014 22 April 2020 Two Conservative MPs, Matthew Offord and John Stevenson, wrote a joint article calling for Johnson to stand in the by-election.https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2014/09/matthew-offord-mp-and-john-steveson-mp-step-up-the-plate-for-the-party-boris-and-run-in-clacton.html Matthew Offord MP and John Stevenson MP: Step up to the plate for the Party, Boris – and run in Clacton Offord Matthew Stevenson John 3 September 2014 ConservativeHome https://web.archive.org/web/20200428143238/https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2014/09/matthew-offord-mp-and-john-steveson-mp-step-up-the-plate-for-the-party-boris-and-run-in-clacton.html live 28 April 2020 28 April 2020 The bookmaker Ladbrokes offered odds of 33–1 against Johnson standing in Clacton.https://www.mylondon.news/news/local-news/uxbridge-lose-boris-johnson-clacton-7690859 Will Uxbridge lose Boris Johnson to Clacton seat? Drewett Zoe 29 August 2014 MyLondon https://web.archive.org/web/20200422132843/https://www.mylondon.news/news/local-news/uxbridge-lose-boris-johnson-clacton-7690859 live 22 April 2020 22 April 2020 He ruled out standing, saying that he was intent on fighting Uxbridge and South Ruislip at the general election.http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/09/02/boris-johnson-clacton-carswell-ukip_n_5750712.html Boris Johnson Rules Out Fighting Douglas Carswell For Clacton Simons Ned 2 September 2014 Huffington Post https://web.archive.org/web/20200422133118/https://consent.yahoo.com/collectConsent?sessionId=2_cc-session_62807458-f846-47e6-be5b-7a2fed3c316e&lang=en-gb&inline=false live 22 April 2020 22 April 2020 The Conservative candidate was the actor and Tendring District councillor Giles Watling who was chosen by an open primary, in which 240 local residents voted, on 11 September.http://www.essexcountystandard.co.uk/news/localnews/11469050.Frinton_actor_Giles_Watling_named_as_Tory_candidate_for_by_election/?ref=var_0 Frinton actor Giles Watling named as Tory candidate for by-election Dwan James 11 September 2014 Essex County Standard https://web.archive.org/web/20201010140339/https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/11469050.frinton-actor-giles-watling-named-as-tory-candidate-for-by-election/ live 10 October 2020 10 October 2020 He was shortlisted with Colchester councillor Sue Lissimore.http://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11463392.BREAKING__Tory__open_primary__candidates_for_Clacton_by_election_are_Frinton_actor_Giles_Watling_and_Colchester_councillor_Sue_Lissimore/?ref=var_0 TORY 'open primary' candidates for Clacton by-election are Frinton actor Giles Watling and Colchester councillor Sue Lissimore Dwan James 10 September 2014 Clacton and Frinton Gazette https://web.archive.org/web/20200423092906/https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11463392.tory-open-primary-candidates-for-clacton-by-election-are-frinton-actor-giles-watling-and-colchester-councillor-sue-lissimore/ live 23 April 2020 23 April 2020http://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2014/09/two-candidates-shortlisted-for-the-clacton-by-election.html Two candidates shortlisted for the Clacton by-election Wallace Mark Mark Wallace (journalist) 10 September 2014 Conservative Home https://web.archive.org/web/20200423093246/http://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2014/09/two-candidates-shortlisted-for-the-clacton-by-election.html live 23 April 2020 23 April 2020 Other candidates The Colchester councillor Tim Young was selected as the Labour candidate for the constituency in 2013 for the next general election,James Dwan 3 December 2013 http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/10848505.Tim_Young_selected_as_Labour_candidate_for_Clacton/?ref=rss Tim Young selected as Labour candidate for Clacton Gazette News https://web.archive.org/web/20210104191057/https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/10848505.tim-young-selected-as-labour-candidate-for-clacton/ live 4 January 2021 4 January 2021 and became the party's by-election candidate.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29029022 Clacton by-election to take place on 9 October BBC News 2 September 2014 25 August 2016 The Liberal Democrat candidate, Andy Graham, was the former mayor of Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire,https://news.sky.com/story/actor-escort-and-loony-line-up-for-clacton-10387190 Actor, Escort And 'Loony' Line Up For Clacton 8 October 2014 Sky News https://web.archive.org/web/20210109161358/https://news.sky.com/story/actor-escort-and-loony-line-up-for-clacton-10387190 live 9 January 2021 9 January 2021 as well as an actor and author of children's books.http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/politics-old/poll_is_clacton_a_town_that_s_going_nowhere_1_3760753 Poll: Is Clacton a town that's going nowhere? Hirst Andrew 8 September 2014 East Anglian Daily Times https://web.archive.org/web/20140910180614/http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/politics-old/poll_is_clacton_a_town_that_s_going_nowhere_1_3760753 10 September 2014 24 April 2020https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2014-09-11/conservatives-prepare-to-choose-clacton-candidate Conservatives prepare to choose Clacton candidate 11 September 2014 ITV News https://web.archive.org/web/20210109160852/https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2014-09-11/conservatives-prepare-to-choose-clacton-candidate live 9 January 2021 9 January 2021 The Green Party candidate was the environmentalist Chris Southall, who had stood for the party in previous general and local elections.http://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11463330.Clacton_environmentalist_Chris_Southall_is_Green_Party_s_by_election_candidate/?ref=var_0 Clacton environmentalist Chris Southall is Green Party's by-election candidate Clacton and Frinton Gazette https://web.archive.org/web/20201010133024/https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11463330.clacton-environmentalist-chris-southall-is-green-partys-by-election-candidate/ live 10 October 2020 10 October 2020 He gained some notoriety for a UFO hoax in the 1960s.https://www.bbc.co.uk/southtoday/content/articles/2009/01/27/telltom_ufo_feature.shtml Tell Tom - Are we alone? BBC News 18 February 2009 25 August 2016 Alan "Howling Laud" Hope was the candidate for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party. He is also the leader of the party and the former mayor of Ashburton, Devon.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/the-lunatic-fringe-535650.html The lunatic fringe 10 October 2011 The Independent https://web.archive.org/web/20210109162406/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/the-lunatic-fringe-535650.html live 9 January 2021 9 January 2021 Hope, who served as Mayor of Ashburton and is now the Town Crier in Yateley Charlotte Rose and Bruce Sizer were independent candidates.Lodge Will Clacton: Candidates announced for Parliamentary by-election http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/politics_old_2_480/clacton_candidates_announced_for_parliamentary_by_election_1_3772859 East Anglian Daily Times 16 September 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20200907085944/https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/clacton-candidates-announced-for-parliamentary-by-election-1-3772859 7 September 2020 9 January 2021 Rose described herself as a "high class courtesan" campaigning "for sexual freedom" and improved sex education in schools.http://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11478019.Sex_worker_named_as_candidate_in_Clacton_by_election/ Sex worker named as candidate in Clacton by-election Dwan James 17 September 2014 Clacton and Frinton Gazette https://web.archive.org/web/20200424074936/https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11478019.sex-worker-named-as-candidate-in-clacton-by-election/ live 24 April 2020 24 April 2020 Sizer was a consultant oncologist at Colchester Hospital who stood as a single-issue candidate to get health and cancer care onto the agenda of the political parties.http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/essex-ipswich-cancer-doctor-to-fight-clacton-by-election-on-health-agenda-1-3773826 Essex/Ipswich: Cancer doctor to fight Clacton by-election on health agenda Lodge Will 18 September 2014 East Anglian Daily Times https://web.archive.org/web/20200424074258/https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/essex-ipswich-cancer-doctor-to-fight-clacton-by-election-on-health-agenda-1-3773826 live 24 April 2020 24 April 2020 He was Joint Clinical Director of the Essex Cancer Network from 2006 until 2008 and was an honorary research professor at the University of Essex.https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/north_essex_news/18277606.cancer-specialists-farewell-40-years-serving-patients/ Cancer specialists' farewell after 40 years serving patients Creed Rebecca 4 March 2020 Clacton and Frinton Gazette https://web.archive.org/web/20200424074751/https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/north_essex_news/18277606.cancer-specialists-farewell-40-years-serving-patients/ live 24 April 2020 23 April 2020 Campaign The Conservatives were mocked by UKIP supporters for sending out a leaflet, called "The Big Clacton Survey" asking voters to prioritise issues including "local train and tube services", despite the fact that the nearest tube (ie London Underground) station to Clacton is over 50 miles km away.James Dwan http://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/north_essex_news/11457629.Ukip_supporters_mock_Tory_survey_asking_Clacton_voters__views_on__local__tube_services/?ref=mr Ukip supporters mock Tory survey asking Clacton voters' views on 'local' tube services Clacton and Frinton Gazette 6 September 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20200422111201/https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11457629.ukip-supporters-mock-tory-survey-asking-clacton-voters-views-on-local-tube-services/ live 22 April 2020 22 April 2020http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/09/06/ukip-douglas-carswell-clacton-campaign_n_5776998.html Ukip's Douglas Carswell Tells Clacton: 'Don't Get Angry, Get Change' Bennett Asa 6 September 2014 Huffington Post 22 April 2020 UKIP claimed to have recruited 150 local Conservative members following Carswell's defection.James Dwan http://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11450013.Ukip_claims__mass_exodus__of_Tory_party_members/?ref=mr Ukip claims "mass exodus" of Tory party members Clacton and Frinton Gazette 4 September 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20200422111447/https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11450013.ukip-claims-mass-exodus-of-tory-party-members/ live 22 April 2020 22 April 2020 The journalist and former Conservative MP, Matthew Parris, created a controversy by writing in The Times that the Conservatives should be "careless" of Clacton voters' opinions as "Clacton-on-Sea is going nowhere",https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/tories-should-turn-their-backs-on-clacton-j0k5h6zld08 Tories should turn their backs on Clacton Parris Matthew 6 September 2014 The Times limited https://web.archive.org/web/20200422110216/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tories-should-turn-their-backs-on-clacton-j0k5h6zld08 live 22 April 2020 22 April 2020https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/11082586/The-voters-of-Clacton-dont-deserve-Matthew-Parriss-sneering-contempt.html The voters of Clacton don't deserve Mr Parris's sneering contempt Ford Rob Goodwin Matthew Matt Goodwin (author) 8 September 2014 The Daily Telegraph https://web.archive.org/web/20200422105921/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/11082586/The-voters-of-Clacton-dont-deserve-Matthew-Parriss-sneering-contempt.html live 22 April 2020 22 April 2020http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100285407/dear-matthew-parris-if-the-tories-abandon-the-working-class-to-ukip-they-will-deserve-to-lose-2015/ If the Tories abandon the working class to UKIP they deserve to lose Stanley Tim Tim Stanley 6 September 2014 The Daily Telegraph https://web.archive.org/web/20140913154003/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100285407/dear-matthew-parris-if-the-tories-abandon-the-working-class-to-ukip-they-will-deserve-to-lose-2015/ dead 13 September 2014 22 April 2020 remarks which were disowned by local Conservatives and denounced by Carswell as "reflective of what so many in the upper echelons of the Tory party really think" and were cited by two local Conservative councillors as a reason for defecting to UKIP.http://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/north_essex_news/11462031.Two_Clacton_Tory_councillors_defect_to_Ukip/?ref=mr Two Clacton Tory councillors defect to Ukip Dwan James 9 September 2014 Clacton and Frinton Gazette https://web.archive.org/web/20200422111018/https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11462031.two-clacton-tory-councillors-defect-to-ukip/ live 22 April 2020 22 April 2020 An important component of the UKIP campaign was a public meeting of 700 people at the Clacton Coastal Academy with Douglas Carswell and UKIP leader Nigel Farage (who himself would go on to become the MP for Clacton in 2024), which was billed as the "biggest public meeting in Clacton in living memory".James Dwan http://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11488568.More_than_700_people_snap_up_tickets_for__biggest_public_meeting_in_Clacton_in_living_memory__with_Ukip_leader_Nigel_Farage/?ref=var_0 More than 700 people snap up tickets for "biggest public meeting in Clacton in living memory" with Ukip leader Nigel Farage Clacton and Frinton Gazette 22 September 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20200422111722/https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11488568.more-than-700-people-snap-up-tickets-for-biggest-public-meeting-in-clacton-in-living-memory-with-ukip-leader-nigel-farage/ live 22 April 2020 22 April 2020https://www.ft.com/content/11bf9abc-449e-11e4-bce8-00144feabdc0 Ukip takes anti-establishment fight to Essex seaside Thompson Barney 25 September 2014 Financial Times subscription 22 April 2020https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/11121526/Is-Ukips-Douglas-Carswell-overshadowing-Nigel-Farage-within-the-party.html Is Ukip's Douglas Carswell overshadowing Nigel Farage within the party? Hayes Kat Akkoc Raziye 26 September 2014 The Daily Telegraph https://web.archive.org/web/20200422110548/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/11121526/Is-Ukips-Douglas-Carswell-overshadowing-Nigel-Farage-within-the-party.html dead 22 April 2020 22 April 2020 Both the Prime Minister David CameronJames Dwan http://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/north_essex_news/11510833.David_Cameron_says__underdog__Tories_can_win_Clacton_by_election_during_visit_to_resort/?ref=mr David Cameron says 'underdog' Tories can win Clacton by-election during visit to resort Clacton and Frinton Gazette 2 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20200422111903/https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11510833.david-cameron-says-underdog-tories-can-win-clacton-by-election-during-visit-to-resort/ live 22 April 2020 22 April 2020 and the Labour leader Ed Milibandhttp://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11509908.Labour_leader_Miliband____we_re_the_party_to_tackle_GP_shortage_/?ref=mr Clacton: Labour leader Miliband - 'we're the party to tackle GP shortage' Dwan James Clacton and Frinton Gazette 2 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20200422112008/https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/11509908.clacton-labour-leader-miliband-were-the-party-to-tackle-gp-shortage/ live 22 April 2020 22 April 2020 visited the constituency to help their respective party campaigns. Ten days before the election, the artist Banksy painted a mural on a wall in Clacton which showed five grey pigeons holding three placards. They held the words "go back to Africa" "migrants not welcome", and "keep off our worms". They were directed towards a more colourful migratory swallow perched further along the same wire. The mural was removed by Tendring District Council who had received a complaint that "offensive and racist remarks" had appeared on a wall.https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/oct/01/banksy-mural-clacton-racist Council removes Banksy artwork after complaints of racism Johnston Chris 1 October 2014 The Guardian https://web.archive.org/web/20200422110701/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/oct/01/banksy-mural-clacton-racist live 22 April 2020 22 April 2020 Two days before the election, Boris Johnson was unable to remember the name of the Conservative candidate in the by-election during an interview with Nick Ferrari, saying "he's a superb man. Stirling? Girling? Something like that".https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29523009 Stirling? Girling? Boris Johnson forgets candidate's name 7 October 2014 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20200428143758/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29523009 live 28 April 2020 28 April 2020 Polling Date(s)conductedPolling organisation/client Sample size Con Lab UKIP LDGreen Others Lead9 Oct 2014 Clacton by-election result 35,365 24.6% 11.2% 59.7% 1.4% 1.9% 1.2% 35.1% 29 Aug – 1 Sep Lord Ashcroft (for the 2015 general election)http://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Clacton-poll-Full-data-tables-September-2014.pdf Clacton By-Election Poll 1 September 2014 Lord Ashcroft https://web.archive.org/web/20200430145646/http://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Clacton-poll-Full-data-tables-September-2014.pdf live 30 April 2020 30 April 2020 1,001 27% 19% 48% 3% 3% <0.5% 21% 29 Aug – 1 Sep Lord Ashcroft (for the 2014 by-election) 1,001 24% 16% 56% 2% 1% 1% 32% 28–29 Aug Survation (for the 2014 by-election)http://survation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Clacton-constituency-poll-results.zip Clacton Constituency Poll 31 August 2014 Survation ZIP 30 April 2020 700 20% 13% 64% 2% 1% <0.5% 44% 6 May 2010 2010 general election result 43,123 53.0% 25.0% – 12.9% 1.2% 7.8% 28.0% Result and analysis By-election 2014: Clactonhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29549414 UKIP gains first elected MP with Clacton win 10 October 2014 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20200430145339/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29549414 live 30 April 2020 30 April 2020http://www.tendringdc.gov.uk/council/elections-voting/clacton-constituency-parliamentary-election Clacton Constituency – Parliamentary by-election 2014 Tendring District Council https://web.archive.org/web/20200430180329/https://www.tendringdc.gov.uk/council/elections-voting/clacton-constituency-parliamentary-election live 30 April 2020 30 April 2020 UK Independence Party Douglas Carswell 21,113 59.7 New Conservative Party (UK) Giles Watling 8,709 24.6 28.4 Labour Party (UK) Tim Young 3,957 11.2 13.8 Green Party of England and Wales Chris Southall 688 1.9 0.7 Liberal Democrats (UK) Andrew Graham 483 1.4 11.5 Independent Bruce Sizer 205 0.6 New Official Monster Raving Loony Party Alan "Howling Laud" Hope 127 0.4 New Independent Charlotte Rose 56 0.2 New 12,404 35.1 N/A 35,338 51.0 13.0 UK Independence Party Conservative Party (UK) 44.1 The election produced a number of statistical records, partly because of the unusual situation in which an incumbent MP with a large majority for one party has resigned and then stood for re-election on behalf of a new party for which support was in any case on a strongly rising trend. The 59.7% increase in the percentage vote achieved by UKIP since the previous general election (when they did not field a candidate) is the greatest ever in British parliamentary elections, although the percentage swing remains 0.1% less than the record 44.2% swing to the Liberal Party at the 1983 Bermondsey by-election. The 28.4% reduction in Conservative votes is the 16th worst for any party since the Second World War, while the 1.4% of the vote achieved by the Liberal Democrats was, at the time, the third smallest vote ever obtained by a major party, and the worst since World War II.Curtice John John Curtice Andrew Neil Clacton by-election: Statistics of Douglas Carswell's win Video https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-29563847 BBC News 10 October 2014 22 April 2014 Since then, however, the Liberal Democrats received an even smaller proportion of the vote at the Rochester and Strood by-election later in 2014.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rochester-byelection-lib-dems-blame-tactical-voting-for-partys-worst-ever-result-9876694.html Rochester by-election: Lib Dems blame tactical voting for party's worst ever result McSmith Andy The Independent 21 November 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141221093022/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rochester-byelection-lib-dems-blame-tactical-voting-for-partys-worst-ever-result-9876694.html dead 21 December 2014 22 April 2020 Aftermath In November 2014, Mark Reckless won the Rochester and Strood by-election, giving UKIP a second MP.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30140747 Rochester: Farage looks to more UKIP gains after success 21 November 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20210111200249/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-30140747 live 11 January 2021 11 January 2021 At the 2015 general election, Carswell retained his seat, becoming UKIP's only MP, though the party received 13% of the vote nationally (Reckless lost his seat to the Conservatives).https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-england-32613673 Election 2015: Essex seats stay Conservative bar Clacton 8 May 2015 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20210111202620/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2015-england-32613673 live 11 January 2021 11 January 2021https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32633719 Nigel Farage resigns as UKIP leader as the party vote rises 8 May 2015 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20210111200754/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32633719 live 11 January 2021 11 January 2021https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-england-32614661 Election 2015: UKIP fails in South Thanet and Rochester and Strood 8 May 2015 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20210111200841/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2015-england-32614661 live 11 January 2021 11 January 2021 Giles Watling was the Conservative candidate again, and came second in the constituency, 3,347 votes behind Carswell.https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/election-2015-ukip-s-douglas-carswell-holds-clacton-seat-with-majority-of-3-437-1-4065414 Election 2015: UKIP's Douglas Carswell holds Clacton seat with majority of 3,437 Lodge Will 8 May 2015 East Anglian Daily Times https://web.archive.org/web/20201010135828/https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/election-2015-ukip-s-douglas-carswell-holds-clacton-seat-with-majority-of-3-437-1-4065414 live 10 October 2020 10 October 2020 The Conservative Party won an overall majority in the general election.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32633099 Election results: Conservatives win majority BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20210111201210/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2015-32633099 live 11 January 2021 11 January 2021 In their manifesto, they had promised to hold a referendum on British membership of the European Union, which was held on 23 June 2016.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15390884 Timeline: Campaigns for a European Union referendum 21 May 2015 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20210111202218/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-15390884 live 11 January 2021 11 January 2021https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35621079 EU referendum: Cameron sets June date for UK vote 20 February 2016 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20210111202325/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-35621079 live 11 January 2021 11 January 2021 The UK voted to leave the EU, with 52% of votes cast in favour of leaving.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/eu_referendum/results EU Referendum: Results 2016 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20210111203154/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/eu_referendum/results live 11 January 2021 11 January 2021 In March 2017, Carswell left UKIP and became an independent MP.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39393213 Douglas Carswell quitting UKIP to become independent MP for Clacton 25 March 2017 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20210111201429/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-39393213 live 11 January 2021 11 January 2021 He did not stand in the 2017 general election, instead supporting the Conservative candidate in Clacton.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39655704 Douglas Carswell will not stand in general election 20 April 2017 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20210111201752/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-39655704 live 11 January 2021 11 January 2021 In the general election, Watling won the seat for the Conservatives, with a large majority over the second-place Labour candidate (the UKIP candidate came third, receiving 8% of the vote).https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/general-election-2017-conservative-giles-watling-re-takes-clacton-for-his-party-1-5054560 General election 2017: Conservative Giles Watling re-takes Clacton for his party Lodge Will 9 June 2017 East Anglian Daily Times https://web.archive.org/web/20201010135347/https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/general-election-2017-conservative-giles-watling-re-takes-clacton-for-his-party-1-5054560 10 October 2020 10 October 2020https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000642 Clacton: Parliamentary constituency 2019 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20210114184757/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000642 live 14 January 2021 14 January 2021 At the 2019 general election, Watling increased his majority further, receiving almost three-quarters of the vote.https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/general-election-2019-clacton-conservative-hold-seat-2632000 'Humbling' - Tory Giles Watling describes winning Clacton seat with 25,000 Barnett Sophie 13 December 2019 East Anglian Daily Times https://web.archive.org/web/20210114185627/https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/general-election-2019-clacton-conservative-hold-seat-2632000 live 14 January 2021 14 January 2021 See also Politics United Kingdom 2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom 2026 Clacton by-election List of United Kingdom by-elections (2010–present) Opinion polling for the 2015 United Kingdom general election Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies (2010–2015) References 30em collapsed Clacton by-election Clacton by-election Clacton by-election Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Essex constituencies Category:Tendring Category:2010s in Essex Category:UK Independence Party