'We live in seaside town where Nigel Farage is standing - this is why we'll vote for him'

Residents in Nigel Farage’s target seat heralded his candidacy on the day he launched his campaign from Clacton Pier. Many of those living in the Essex constituency have predicted the “marvellous” Brexiteer will storm into the House of Commons.

Speaking to locals in Clacton and nearby Jaywick, dubbed Britain’s “most deprived seaside town”, Express.co.uk found plenty of support for the GB News presenter’s campaign.

Theresa Montgomery, 74, originally from Hertfordshire, was “delighted” to hear Mr Farage was running to be her MP.

She said: “I couldn’t believe to hear it on the television last night. It’s great, I think it’s great.”

The retired caterer, who moved to Jaywick in 1977, said she was drawn to his character and admired how he spoke his mind. She said: “It’s just the way he talks you know and he’s got guts - marvellous, incredible man.”

She believed he would “definitely” take the seat from Tory incumbent Giles Watling and that if the majority of residents have “got any sense” they will be “delighted” to have Mr Farage as the local MP.

Walking from Clacton-on-Sea station to the seafront, the Dulwich College-educated politician addressed punters and members of the media.

The arch-Brexiteer kick-started his campaign and was joined by former Reform chief Richard Tice at the iconic pier, before heading to the local Wetherspoon.

It was here that Mr Farage was pelted with a McDonald's banana milkshake from a woman in the crowd. Essex Police has arrested a 25-year-old woman on suspicion of assault.

83-year-old Michael Pearson, who has lived in the constituency for two years, said in previous general elections he "definitely voted Conservative".

However, after Mr Farage announced he would run for Parliament, the former printing industry professional said: "Now I would vote for Nigel."

Slamming Rishi Sunak’s administration, Mr Pearson said: "If you are conservative then you’d be pretty disappointed at the performance of the last government."

"I think the Conservatives need a shake-up."

The Shropshire native, who moved to the area two years ago, echoed the sentiments of many of residents in wanting to “see something done about mass immigration”. He, like others, was hopeful Mr Farage could arrest the flow of migrants, both legal and illegal, arriving in Britain.

John Grieveson, 69, an ex-senior engineer at the Rainham Ford factory in south Essex, and his wife, former hairdresser Jacqueline, 67, spoke to Express.co.uk outside a seafront fish and chip shop.

John, who said he was historically a Conservative voter, said the issues in Clacton and across the country are “huge” but the two main parties “are in denial”.

Even though the Tories have pledged to stop small boat crossings, he believed they have “no intention of doing it”.

Ken Tubby, 62, who has lived in Jaywick since 2017, said he would “have to think” about whether Mr Farage would get his vote.

Despite lauding him for “sticking to his guns”, the retired London bus driver was sceptical about what the new Reform UK leader’s “actually going to do for the area”.

However, wife Tracey, 56, chimed in to say that Britain’s top eurosceptic stood for issues she cared about.

She said: “Some of the things he said I can get behind. When he said about the illegals, I could get behind all that. The British public are literally in a crisis, because we do have a migrant crisis - he was right.”

After Mr Farage left the pier, the turquoise Reform UK battle bus left Clacton Pier and arrived at the Three Jays pub.

Prior to the Reform candidate’s arrival at the venue, former merchant seaman Thomas Cunningham, 81, who was playing pool, spoke with admiration for the politician.

He predicted the former Brexit Party leader would win the seat “hands down”, adding: “Mr Farage has come back to finish what he started in the south-east of Essex. It was Essex that got Brexit going, they voted Brexit and he’s just come back to finish the job."

The Glasgow-born resident, who said he passionately disliked the SNP, went on: “I love a United Kingdom and I believe in my heart and soul that Nigel will bring our United Kingdom back again.”