In Nigel Farage’s constituency of Clacton, a neighborhood in Jaywick, Clacton-on-Sea has been identified as the most impoverished area in England, according to newly released data. This area received the highest deprivation score out of over 33,750 small local areas nationwide, as per official statistics.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government assessed scores for each area based on various factors including income, employment, education, health, crime, housing, and the local environment.
This revelation coincided with Reform UK’s announcement of plans to eliminate personal independence payments (PIP) for individuals with anxiety disorders deemed non-serious. The party, led by Mr. Farage, aims to introduce stricter reassessment procedures for qualifying claimants as part of a broader initiative to cut down on benefits expenditure.
The Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) serve as a key method for pinpointing disadvantaged and impoverished regions in the UK. The latest IMD figures, updated for the first time since 2019, reflect the impact of the Covid pandemic on local communities.
Deprivation rates are calculated separately in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with the current data focusing solely on England. The scores are determined for very small neighborhoods known as LSOAs, each with a population of around 1,500 residents.
In Clacton, the area with the lowest score is situated to the west of the town along the coast, officially named Tendring 018A. Most residents in this area reside in detached bungalows within the Brooklands Estate.
Mr. Farage, elected as MP for Clacton in the last General Election with 46% of the vote, has earned nearly £1 million from secondary jobs since taking office, making him the highest-earning MP. Additionally, the top five most deprived areas in the country are all located in Blackpool.
With an abundance of neighborhoods in the top 10, Blackpool emerges as the most deprived local authority in England, boasting the highest average IMD scores among all council areas nationwide. Following Blackpool, the areas with high deprivation levels include Middlesbrough, Burnley, Manchester, and Birmingham.
Conversely, the least deprived regions in England are found in St. Albans, with areas like Harpenden Town and Harpenden East ranking among the least deprived in the country.