In Nigel Farage’s Clacton constituency, new data released today reveals that Jaywick, Clacton-on-Sea, is the most deprived area in England. This neighborhood has received the highest deprivation score out of over 33,750 small local areas across the country, according to official statistics.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has assessed scores for each area based on various factors such as income, employment, education, health, crime, housing, and the local environment.
The Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) are considered the most reliable way to identify areas facing disadvantage and poverty in the UK. The latest data reflects the impact of Covid on local communities, with these figures being updated for the first time since 2019.
Deprivation rates are calculated separately for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, so the data released today pertains only to England. The scores are determined for small neighborhoods known as LSOAs, each with a population of around 1,500 people.
In Clacton, the area with the lowest score is located 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.
Notably, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party recently announced plans to overhaul the benefits system, including discontinuing the personal independence payment for individuals with non-serious anxiety disorders. They aim to implement more frequent reassessments for eligible claimants as part of a broader strategy to save £9 billion annually by 2029.
Furthermore, the top five most deprived areas after Jaywick, Clacton are all situated in Blackpool. This concentration of deprived neighborhoods contributes to Blackpool being identified as the most deprived local authority in England, with the highest average IMD scores compared to other council areas.