!['Infamy, infamy': Clacton's conspiracies and bad actors](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1719805812/articles/PBB2IZYBK1719811501601/INFAMY-INFAMY-CLACTONS-CONSPIRACIES-AND-BAD-ACTORS.jpg)
As you drive into Clacton there are scores of pro-Farage Reform posters asking people to "save Britain" in what is becoming a struggle for the soul of right-of-centre politics.
Only as you travel out to the more genteel areas of the constituency, like Frinton, do they give way to “I stand with Giles” boards. But Giles Watling, the Tory MP defending his Clacton seat, may be the only Conservative candidate in this election with a wide coalition of support across the country willing him to win.
In the wake of the Channel 4 News expose of the Reform Clacton team and the racist comments by one of the canvassers Andrew Parker, Watling received a telephone call from Tony Blair’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell, in normal circumstances no lover of Tories.
“Alastair wanted to know how he can help me stop Farage,” Mr Watling explained to The Independent. “I have had a lot of surprising people like that offering their help from across politics because they know I am the only one who can stop him [Farage] from getting into politics.”
He has even had a video message from Boris Johnson who appeared to be willing to forgive Watling for turning against him over Partygate if it helped stop Farage from winning. It says a lot that two men who detest one another – Campell and Johnson – should unite around Watling.
In contrast, Farage is set to deploy Ann Widdecombe, the former right-wing Tory minister turned Brexit Party MEP and Reform UK supporter, to persuade the locals to back him.
Less than 24 hours after the call from Campbell, Watling was at the Great Bentley show in the constituency where he ran into two young female Labour activists whose candidate, Jovan Owusu-Nepaul, now seems to have unofficially ducked out of the race. “They both told me they are thinking of voting for me. Obviously, I was only too happy to encourage them.”
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 01, 2024-Ausgabe von The Independent.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 01, 2024-Ausgabe von The Independent.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
![CIRCUIT TRAINING](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1755785/nmjZ0Wbf61720161472074/CIRCUIT-TRAINING.jpg)
CIRCUIT TRAINING
A Formula E driver’s fitness regime is not for the unhealthy, faint-hearted or hungover, as Olivia Petter discovered when she spent a day working out with McLaren racer Sam Bird
![Anti-tourism protests won't keep me away from Mallorca](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1755785/9p0ik_CD11720161334579/ANTITOURISM-PROTESTS-WONT-KEEP-ME-AWAY-FROM-MALLORCA.jpg)
Anti-tourism protests won't keep me away from Mallorca
Like the holidaymaker laying down his beach towel at the crack of dawn, protests against overtourism in Mallorca have started even before the summer season has got going.
![Backrow bravado may help England conquer All Blacks](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1755785/SmT1s0AKX1720161147523/BACKROW-BRAVADO-MAY-HELP-ENGLAND-CONQUER-ALL-BLACKS.jpg)
Backrow bravado may help England conquer All Blacks
It is a little over 60 years now since England embarked on their first Antipodean adventure, a squad led by Mike Weston following previous French, Scottish and Irish tours to make a belated arrival in the Southern Hemisphere in 1963.
![Misfiring rivals in search of the quality of compromise](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1755785/X8l3-1uCF1720161018459/MISFIRING-RIVALS-IN-SEARCH-OF-THE-QUALITY-OF-COMPROMISE.jpg)
Misfiring rivals in search of the quality of compromise
Didier Deschamps needs a lone trophy to finish a unique grand slam. He has won the World Cup and the European Championships as a player, the World Cup as a manager.
![Germany could regret late goal as they brace for Spain](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1755785/aspZc7jMI1720160848812/GERMANY-COULD-REGRET-LATE-GOAL-AS-THEY-BRACE-FOR-SPAIN.jpg)
Germany could regret late goal as they brace for Spain
It is something that Julian Nagelsmann doesn’t even want to be mentioned around the German camp, but it’s now impossible not to consider.
![Dart's tie-break tears leave Boulter down and wiped out](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1755785/gGVWpC2vT1720160706860/DARTS-TIEBREAK-TEARS-LEAVE-BOULTER-DOWN-AND-WIPED-OUT.jpg)
Dart's tie-break tears leave Boulter down and wiped out
It is the deciding tie-break, and Harriet Dart is losing 6-2 and on the edge of defeat when she walks to the back of Wimbledon’s No 1 Court and begins to cry.
![Centre Court rises to start of Murray's long goodbye](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1755785/BrHsJczL51720160396430/CENTRE-COURT-RISES-TO-START-OF-MURRAYS-LONG-GOODBYE.jpg)
Centre Court rises to start of Murray's long goodbye
The result quickly faded from memory, as a standing ovation for the losing team signalled the start of a long farewell.
![Tesco shares big windfall with staff who can afford it](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1755785/_F86Npvyd1720160147550/TESCO-SHARES-BIG-WINDFALL-WITH-STAFF-WHO-CAN-AFFORD-IT.jpg)
Tesco shares big windfall with staff who can afford it
Many workers are ineligible or cannot buy in to the scheme
![Plans to build in occupied West Bank cleared by Israel](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1755785/LZkFIGe5S1720159750975/PLANS-TO-BUILD-IN-OCCUPIED-WEST-BANK-CLEARED-BY-ISRAEL.jpg)
Plans to build in occupied West Bank cleared by Israel
The Israeli government has approved plans to build nearly 5,300 new homes in settlements in the occupied West Bank, a monitoring group has said – a move that will only increase tensions over the war in Gaza.
![Biden in post-debate health check to placate Democrats](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1755785/IrPLQbiMT1720159672456/BIDEN-IN-POSTDEBATE-HEALTH-CHECK-TO-PLACATE-DEMOCRATS.jpg)
Biden in post-debate health check to placate Democrats
Joe Biden was said to have undergone a medical check-up after last week’s debate as he revealed the prognosis to a group of 20 governors, sources Say.