Jonathan Embery, of Gaiety Amusements in Clacton, has told the Daily Mail he believes controversial MP Nigel Farage is good for the region, but that steps need to be taken “to clean up the town.”

After taking office last summer, Farage has recently become embroiled in a high-profile spat with fellow Reform UK member Rupert Lowe, however Embery said the focus should remain on improving his constituency.

“I can see him winning the next election without a doubt, but first and foremost he’s got to get people on side, and to do that especially around here, you need to clean up the town,” said Embery. 

“This town, I grew up here, and this town used to thrive. Now, it’s a bit dead and I think a lot of that is to do with the powers to be. It used to be a fun town. I loved Clacton. Now you’re walking around this town and you’re seeing rubbish everywhere, and it’s just run down.”

But Embey stops short of interfering in  party politics. Speaking on the recent spate of infighting among Reform MPs, Embery said “what goes on within their party is for them to sort out. It’s not for anyone else to say. They’ve got their rules and regulations to abide by.”