Activists replace Union Jacks with ‘Tax The Rich’ flags in Farage’s Clacton

Protesters have replaced British flags with ​“Tax the Rich” banners in Clacton, the political stronghold of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. 

Seven supporters of campaign group Take Back Power took to the streets of Frinton-on-Sea, where Farage has a part-time home and sits within the Clacton constituency, removing England flags and Union Jacks from lamp posts and replacing them with pink and yellow flags carrying the message ​“Tax the Rich”.

The protest comes as Farage prepares to leave his role as Clacton’s MP and fight a resulting by-election, having stepped down amid scrutiny over his finances.

• Read next: Activists hack London billboards to call out big tech harm

The Reform UK leader is facing a second investigation by Parliament’s standards watchdog over undeclared gifts. He was already under investigation after failing to declare a £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne before last year’s general election, and has since confirmed a separate inquiry into allegations that he received financial support from George Cottrell, a close associate and convicted fraudster.

Farage has denied wrongdoing and said he intends to stand again in the Clacton by-election. With the exception of Farage’s Reform, the UK’s main political parties have said that they will boycott the election, leaving his main opposition in the election being parody candidate Count Binface.

Take Back Power explained that the protest was organised in response to the ​‘Raise the Colours’ campaign, which has seen Union Jacks and St George’s flags appear on lampposts, roundabouts and public spaces across Britain over the past year. 

• Read next: ​‘Baking Street’: Activists rename Tube stations in heatwave protest

While some have framed the Raise the Colours as a patriotic display, anti-racism organisation HOPE not hate has alleged that key organisers behind the campaign have links to far-right activists, including figures connected to the former English Defence League and Britain First.

Take Back Power said it wanted to ​“reclaim” the flag as a symbol belonging to everyone, rather than allowing it to be associated with groups promoting division. ​“People in towns like Clacton have been abandoned by politicians who would rather protect billionaires than help ordinary people,” explained Wilf, a 24-year-old student who took part in the action. ​“The issue isn’t people arriving in small boats – it’s the people in mega-yachts.”

A spokesperson for Take Back Power said, ​“Our flags belong to all of us. We are reclaiming them as symbols of community and welcome, with a message we can all get behind: tax the super rich.”

Ella Glossop is Huck’s social editor. Follow her on Bluesky.

Buy your copy of Huck 83 here.

Enjoyed this article? Follow Huck on Instagram and sign up to our newsletter for more from the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture.

Support stories like this by becoming a member of Club Huck.