As an actor, Giles Watling the Member for Clacton (above) in the last parliament will know well the melancholy Jaques’s monologue in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It”in Act II Scene VII.
Up to Mr Farage’s announcement that he was going to contest the seat for Reform, Mr Watling was one of the small number of Tories who seemed reasonably assured that they would be returned to Parliament for a seat on the opposition benches.
One can imagine the Unfortunate Watling use a six letter profanity starting with the second letter of the alphabet and ending in the eighteenth upon hearing this news! Suddenly, his “fairly safe” seat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clacton_(UK_Parliament_constituency) was now reduced to the status of highly marginal!
At the time of publishing, the following candidates are standing:
Matthew Bensilum [Liberal Democrats]
Nigel Farage [Reform UK]
Natasha Osben [Green]
Jovan Owusu-Nepaul [Labour]
Giles Watling [Conservative]
Doubtless, given the national prominence that will be given to Clacton and the declaration of results many candidates from such as the Monster Raving Looney party and others will submit their nominations!
The Tories will of course be aware that many of Clacton’s Labour voters may switch their vote from Mr Owusu-Nepaul (https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/24284742.jovan-owusu-nepaul-selected-clacton-labour-parliament-candidate/) to Mr Farage in order to unseat them.
Those thinking of voting for Mr Bensilum (https://tdcdemocracy.tendringdc.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2122) are less likely to vote for Reform UK.
Herewith more reports that make for unpleasant reading for the Unfortunate Watling: