How extraordinary it is to walk around Clacton and see the town painted purple, to glance at the front pages of the local papers to see the word Ukip writ large, to speak to voters not only pledging their support, but fired up and excited about the prospect of playing a part in history.
The Frinton and Walton Gazette has the most astonishing splash of all. On a whole-page black background, the date 10.10.2014 jumps out at any gaze that happens graze the paper’s cover. The subtitle: “The historic date town reveal their new MP and change British politics forever.” Honestly, not a word of persuasion from Team Purple. The electricity of being part of a schism in UK politics that could alter the narrative forever is palpable. The people lining up at polling stations, many of whom hope to touch the page that could turn over a new chapter for this generation of voters.
What a far cry from Ukip’s ever first by-election two decades ago. None could have predicted what would be taking place today. It was 1994 and the party’s candidate was a raven-haired, fresh-faced 40-year-old commodity broker, with a big mouth and even bigger ideas.