RIDING a giant mechanical snail alongside Ann Widdecombe on Great Yarmouth seafront may not be everyone’s idea of an election-winning photo op.
Straight from the Sir Ed Davey electioneering playbook, the naff stunt by Reform UK’s Rupert Lowe was just asking for headlines about slimy politicians and snails’ pace polls.
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Yet, if you believe some of the pollsters, then election insurgents Reform may be about to win here in Norfolk’s kiss-me-quick seaside resort.
A recent poll by Survation had Reform UK as victors here and winning seven other seats, including for its leader Nigel Farage down the coast in Essex’s Clacton-on-Sea.
Another survey by IPSOS this week has Labour as the “likely” winner in Yarmouth, making it one of the most unique and hotly contested battlegrounds of tomorrow’s election.
Bullish Mr Lowe predicts the Conservatives will get “a proper spanking” across the country, with his party benefiting from its hardline stance on immigration.
And he tells me the Tories deserve a thumping come election day to rid the party of what he describes as “social democrats” on its liberal wing.
Reform’s surge in polls – around 16 per cent are backing Nigel Farage’s party nationwide – may be dented by revolting racist and homophobic remarks made recently by party activists.
Down the coast in Clacton, undercover filming by Channel 4 News revealed Reform canvasser Andrew Parker calling Prime Minister Rishi Sunak a “f***ing p***”.
Mr Parker – who is an actor – also suggested migrants should be used as “target practice”.
While a Reform events organiser George Jones was secretly filmed labelling a Pride flag – displayed on a police car – as “f****** degenerate”.
The campaigner added: “They should be out catching nonces not promoting the f******.”
Covertly filmed in the Essex resort, Mr Jones said: “Have a look around. Proper England. You know what I mean? Proper English.
“Not like in London when you’re a foreigner in your own country, and if you say ‘hello’ to someone they look like they’re about to f**king knife you in the face.”
Mr Farage said the men were drunk after watching an England game and that both had been kicked out of Reform.
Reform alleged actor Mr Parker was “a plant” in the new piece but C4 stood by their reporting.
Which way will it swing?
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Bookies Paddy Power make Mr Farage 10-1 on to win Clacton. Can Mr Lowe take Great Yarmouth, perhaps giving Reform an east coast fiefdom?
Once the largest herring port in the world, mass tourism in the resort has lost out to cheap packages on the Costas.
It’s something of a bellwether constituency. Election results here often show which way the political wind is blowing.
Yarmouth turned from blue to red at Tony Blair’s 1997 landslide before switching back to the Tories in 2010 when David Cameron became Prime Minister.
It’s also very Brexity – 71.5 per cent here voted to leave the EU in 2016, the fifth highest in the country.
So which way is jaunty Yarmouth – birthplace of Myleene Klass and Succession’s Matthew Macfadyen – swinging this time?
Great Yarmouth candidates
English Democrats, Catherine Blaiklock
Independent, Paul Brown
Conservative, James Clark
Labour, Keir Cozens
Reform UK, Rupert Lowe
Green, Trevor Rawson
Independent, Clare Roullier
Liberal Democrat, Fionna Tod
‘Proper spanking’
Despite a stonking near-18,000 majority in 2019 under Tory grandee Sir Brandon Lewis, the Tories look decidedly wobbly here.
According to ONS figures, Great Yarmouth is ranked the 32nd most income-deprived area of England – with unemployment at a rate of nearly 4 per cent, compared to the regional average of 2.8 per cent.
Down the road in the village of Hemsby – which lies within the constituency – residents have also had to battle the creeping problem of coastal erosion.
While some houses have been dragged back from the crumbling cliff edge, other homeowners have been left with no choice but to demolish their properties.
Former Southampton FC chairman Mr Lowe, 66, has pledged to give his MP’s salary to Great Yarmouth charities if he’s elected for Reform on July 4.
I think Nigel Farage will surprise a lot of people because people are fed up with the other two
Judy Yusuf, former NHS worker
“The One Nation Tories have to be expunged,” he said. “And that can only happen if they get a proper spanking, which they’re going to get. I think they could get less than 50 seats.”
Saying immigration was Reform’s number one priority, he believes the seven MPs predicted in a recent Survation poll “is enough to build a bridgehead” in the House of Commons.
Businessman and farmer Mr Lowe added: “Everybody knows nothing’s working and they’re paying more tax. And this is finally the seminal moment where the British electorate says enough is enough.
As for Labour, he says: “Keir Starmer isn’t saying much about immigration, which is the key issue.”
After the recent photo op at a kiddies’ theme park on the seafront, Ms Widdecombe – booted out of the Conservatives in 2019 after switching to the Brexit Party – even cracked a half decent gag.
“The snails reminded me of the Tories – a bumpy ride,” the one time Strictly star quipped.
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On golden sands below the snail attraction, Judy Yusuf is watching the £4-a-ride donkeys munching hay in the sunshine.
The former NHS worker, 69, said with a giggle of Britain’s political class: “They’re all donkeys too!”
Judy lists her election priorities as “immigration, 100 per cent the NHS and the economy”, adding: “I can’t tell you who I’m voting for but it won’t be the Tories or Labour.
“I think Nigel Farage will surprise a lot of people because people are fed up with the other two.”
Strolling near the pier, Prakash Patel, 60, a fibre optics assembler, agrees.
“I think Farage will stop the boat crossings,” he insisted, while adding: “My relatives came to the UK legally, and so should others who want to live here.”
Serving up hefty portions of haddock and chips on Great Yarmouth seafront, Marianne Lyford remains unconvinced by the runaway favourite to be Britain’s next Prime Minister.
“I certainly won’t be voting for Keir Starmer,” she tells me mid-shift at Krispies on Britannia Pier. “He could send a glass eye to sleep.”
As for Labour’s promises to keep taxes down while delivering better public services, the 47-year-old adds: “Where are they going to get the money from?
“Someone will have to suffer.”
Opinion poll fears
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I’d have liked to have asked Labour’s candidate in Yarmouth for his thoughts on the issue, but, despite a flurry of calls to his people, he was unavailable for an interview.
The Tories candidate this time is James Clark, a former infantry officer who served two tours of Afghanistan where he worked closely with Special Forces personnel.
Yarmouth has a long history of involvement with Britain’s armed forces.
Norfolk’s Admiral Horatio Nelson – who lost an arm in battle – had a close association with the port.
According to a famous story, the landlady of Yarmouth’s Wrestler’s Inn asked Nelson if she could rename the pub The Nelson Arms in his honour.
The admiral is said to have replied: “That would be ridiculous, seeing as I have but one.”
It’s a gag worthy of Jim Davidson who plays the Britannia Pier later this year.
I feel as a country we should take our fair share of immigrants, but they’ve got to come through the correct channels
Mark Nixon
A major in the Army Reserve, Mr Clark told me he isn’t worried about opinion polls.
“On the doorstep, I’ve had two among hundreds who are Conservative to Labour switchers,” he said. “ I’ve had more conversations with people who are voting Reform.
“The reasons people give for supporting Reform are a general disenchantment with politics and that Brexit hasn’t been taken advantage of properly. I fully agree.”
Political acumen
Mr Clark, who runs Conservative Friends of the Armed Forces, added: “I think there’s a new generation of Conservative candidates coming through who will bring more integrity and honesty to politics.
“Covid had a huge impact on our economic situation, health care and education. It derailed a lot of plans set out in 2019.
Formerly a special advisor to Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Mr Clark said: “When I explain my position to voters I have had a good response.
“I tell voters I would be a strong advocate for caps on legal immigration and deterrents for illegal immigration.
“Reform will have a reasonable showing but we do have people coming back to the Conservatives.
He can count on taxi driver Esabil Karaosman, 65, parked on the rank close to the pier.
“I’m a Conservative supporter,” he insisted. “They have had a tough time with covid and the Ukraine war. They have my vote again.”
While dad-of-one Andy Calmels, 64, a council administrator, is sticking with the Tories.
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His comments suggest Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s suggestion of tax rises is cutting through.
“I think it’s a straightforward choice really between Conservative and Labour,” he told me. “I don’t trust Labour at all, never have done.
“They say they’re not going to put taxes up, but they’ve got to find some way of paying for all these promises on the NHS, policing and education?
“At some point over the next five years, if Labour get in, they’re bound to put taxes up. I can’t see any other way they can do it otherwise.”
What jumps out when talking to folk in Great Yarmouth is the number of undecided voters.
Walking down the seafront with two giant toy seagulls under his arms, Mark Nixon, 41, says immigration is one of his election concerns.
The dad-of-three insisted: “I feel as a country we should take our fair share of immigrants, but they’ve got to come through the correct channels.”
The mental health support worker is an undecided voter but “swaying towards Labour”.
Wearing a Only Fools and Horses themed top, he said of the Tories: “I can’t get past the whole Covid situation where people’s relatives were dying and they were partying.
“Furlough was brilliant but when we all stayed at home, they were out partying. You’ve got to lead by example, and they didn’t.”
Labour hopes
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While businessman Azam Gabbair, 64, who runs a clothing store in Yarmouth centre, said he wants “change” and he’s more likely to vote Labour.
“The big issue for me is business rates which are too high. Along with energy costs and staffing costs we’re struggling to make ends meet.
“We’ve had 14 years of the Tories and they haven’t helped. Keir Starmer hasn’t got much character, but we really need a change.”
Grandmother Maureen Kilmister, 70, is another not convinced by Sir Keir.
“He flip flops on his policies,” the former civil servant said. “I think he’ll put taxes up, without a shadow of a doubt.”
As for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, she revealed: “I think he did a world of good with furlough. He kept a lot of businesses afloat.
“But we need a new government. I’m undecided between voting Green or Reform.”
The polls may be predicting a colossal Labour landslide, but the race for Great Yarmouth seems far from done.
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