Under battered England flags, cynicism, pessimism and exhaustion stalk the streets of Clacton.

As the byelection called by Nigel Farage approaches, one young couple do not know which candidates are standing. Neither has ever voted. Living in Britain is “depressing”, says the woman in a black floral dress. “The cost of living these days is stupid,” says her partner, wearing a black and grey mechanic’s shirt and a black and red cap. They both work 40 or 50 hours a week, he says, yet “we’re still struggling to pay rent, food, electric, everything else”. They rarely get a day off, and time spent together is rarer still.

No wonder they are not agonising over the £5m personal gift Farage received from a Thailand-based crypto billionaire, or the donations in kind from a convicted fraudster. Life is already taking up all their time.

Communities across Britain have endured stagnation and decline since the financial crash of 2008, but Clacton has more problems than most. Families still descend on the flashing arcades and fairground rides of Clacton pier, but nothing has replaced the economic world swept away by the decline of the English seaside holiday. Clacton is among the top 10% of deprived English constituencies. One neighbourhood is ranked the most deprived in England.

Yet the scandal over Farage’s income provokes precious little anger here. “I know how corrupt everything is,” says a former soldier, who served 22 years. “It’s just part and parcel of politics.” The belief that all politicians are on the take – and that Farage is therefore no different – is everywhere. Tell people that other politicians are not receiving £5m lump sums from foreign billionaires and many simply shrug. Contempt for politicians has become Farage’s protection.

Some........

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