'Nigel Farage created the 250,000 by-election chaos so he should answer for every penny spent'

Nigel Farage decided to quit as MP for Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, last month and now stands in a by-election there on Thursday, a stunt said to cost the taxpayer 250,000

20:38, 04 Aug 2026Updated 20:38, 04 Aug 2026

View Image

Voice of the Mirror has its say...

Nigel Farage has dumped the country with a 250,000 by-election bill for a stunt that reeks of vanity, evasion and contempt for taxpayers. He quit his seat only to stand again after rivals accused him of dodging scrutiny over a 5million gift from a Thai-based crypto billionaire.

The result is a democratic farce: a near metre-long ballot paper, a record 34 candidates, Count Binface among them, and Tendring Council forced to spend scarce money on extraordinary arrangements. Farage never stops preaching about waste, bloated government and respect for the public purse.

Yet when his own career is on the line, he is happy to burn through taxpayers cash without blinking. Clacton deserves a serious MP, not another circus built around one mans ego.

His partys supposed crusade against waste looks utterly fraudulent. Farage called this election. He created the chaos. He should answer for every penny spent and explain why local people must pay for his latest exercise in self-preservation.

Hit banks with windfall tax

Together, HSBC, Lloyds, Barclays and NatWest raked in more than 29 billion in six months while families are hammered by mortgage costs, energy bills and high prices.

Their profits have been swollen by interest rates staying higher for longer. The banks did not cause the crisis, but benefited handsomely from it. Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey should use the autumn Budget to impose a windfall tax on excess profits.

This levy would take a share of earnings made in exceptional circumstances while leaving banks with billions. The money could cut energy bills and support the NHS, schools, social care and councils. Taxpayers rescued the banks when they were in trouble. Now, families need help, ministers must make them return the favour.

Keep your cool with your fridge

Amid the heatwaves, Britain has lost the plot over the fridge. Apples, nuts and potatoes should apparently chill out, while chocolate, tomatoes and coffee belong outside.

Article continues below

Every kitchen has now become a rather chilly game of chance. That is the cold, hard truth.

[Voice of the Mirror]

Voice of the Mirror

The leading comment of the Daily Mirror and the Sunday Mirror.

[Daily Mirror Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.

[Google Preferred Source Badge]

At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the "Do Not Sell or Share my Data" button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.