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   HebrideanHecate (hebrideanhecate@spinster.xyz)'s status on Thursday, 09-Jul-2026 23:54:34 JST HebrideanHecate

   https://www.instagram.com/p/DakcXazFN5-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

   The chattering classes are having a good old laugh at Nigel Farage. His triggering of a by-election in his own constituency of Clacton has descended into “farce”, they crow. One by one the parties said they wouldn’t stand in this “stunt” by the sea. Labour, the Lib Dems, the Tories, the Greens – all of them, in a tinny chorus of groupthink, washed their hands of the Clacton contest. It looks like it will be Nige vs Count Binface, to the childish glee of every Radio 4 comedian and Remoaner on the internet.

   Well, I’m not laughing. I think the parties are behaving abominably. Their choreographed retreat smacks of moral cowardice. This is a collective abdication of the first duty of a party, which is to contest elections, to disseminate ideas, to try to win the hearts of voters. The parties think they’re getting one over on Farage but in truth they are grossly insulting the good people of Clacton, whose views and votes they clearly couldn’t give a toss about. They are cruelly depriving these working-class seasiders of choice. It is obscene.

   ✍️ Brendan O'Neill

   • KeepTakingTheSoma likes this.
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     KeepTakingTheSoma (keeptakingthesoma@spinster.xyz)'s status on Friday, 10-Jul-2026 00:22:42 JST KeepTakingTheSoma

     in reply to
     @HebrideanHecate I certainly confirms that the Greens, Tories, Labour and Lib Dems are The Uniparty and there's nothing to differentiate one from the other.
     Perhaps it's time to put None of the Above on the ballot. If None of the Above gets the most votes then the election has to be fought again with new candidates. If nothing else it might improve the quality of the candidates. I look at most of them and I'm embarrassed on their behalf for how idiotic they appear to be.