Anthony Mack is the Reform UK Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Clacton. We spoke with Tony about his decision to stand.
“I worked as a black cabbie for several years before building up and owning a very small fleet of black cabs that I rented out to other drivers. At the age of 40 I decided to sell up and go on to fund my studies and become an integral psychotherapist”
Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Tony Mack. I am a Psychotherapist, a husband, father and a grandfather I now live in Clacton, although I grew up in the east end of London in Bethnal Green. Visiting and staying in caravans, Butlins and chalets etc in Clacton, Jaywick Sands, Walton on the Naze, Frinton, St Osyth’s and other wonderful places during summer holidays and weekends throughout my childhood.
After leaving school at 16 I did a few various jobs until my first child was born in my early 20s and I decided to do the knowledge of London to become a Black Cab Driver I completed the knowledge in a year and 2 days and became one of the youngest black cab drivers in London at the time of getting my badge at 23. It was then that I realised that far from being unintelligent as I was led to believe by my early schooling and the education system at the time, somewhat the opposite was true. I worked as a black cabbie for several years before building up and owning a very small fleet of black cabs that I rented out to other drivers. At the age of 40 I decided to sell up and go on to fund my studies and become an integral psychotherapist.
Psychology and politics have always been an interest of mine growing up working class with a relatively poor background and after my own battles with depression and addiction in my late 20s (I have been clean and sober myself for 25 years) I started working with others in the addiction field (as a volunteer) it was one of the motivators for me to move into the psychological field as a career.
After qualifying in 2010 and setting up my own private psychotherapy practice in London several years ago I have had a rich and rewarding career. I consider it a privilege to be able to make a difference in the quality of life for so many over the years and am proud of my achievements. I was lucky enough to realise a childhood dream of mine and own a house by the beach in Clacton several years ago. Upon witnessing the desperate provision for mental health and the rates of addiction and other mental struggles of the population in Clacton I decided to create Clacton coastal mental wellbeing C.I.C.
Which aims to improve the mental health of the Tendring area with immediate free access to psychological therapies and classes. My family, my clinical practice my charitable works and now my political endeavours mean my life is rich full and meaningful. I want my children and grandchildren to grow up with the opportunities I have had and that this great country and society of ours have given me.
“I now believe the Conservatives have broken Britain and Labour will destroy Britain. Every aspect of our country its institutions and our society are in complete chaos”
What made you decide to stand for Reform UK?
As a Brexiteer and believing in the sovereignty and autonomy of Great Britain , it was a natural choice for me. I am a traditionally ‘small c’ Conservative, who believes in personal responsibility empowerment and growth.
I have become absolutely disillusioned with the state of our country and its successive governance over the last 30 years. This is to the extent that I now believe the Conservatives have broken Britain and Labour will destroy Britain. Every aspect of our country its institutions and our society are in complete chaos and at breaking point.
I believe Reform UK offer the only credible alternative to the incompetent Westminster bubble we call our parliament.
Only Reform offer a way to end the present decline in our culture, our public services, our standard of living and quality of life. Only Reform can save us from this ideological abyss we are facing. Only Reform can give our great country back its future. So my children’s children can grow up in a Great Britain that we all know and love. We face an existential threat as a nation and only Reform UK has the plan the courage and the will to make Britain Great again.
“I and my party will fight tooth and nail for every resident and every business in this great constituency. A representative who is accessible who understands the struggles that people face in their daily lives”
You’re the Spokesman for Clacton what’s made you decide to represent this area?
I am privileged to represent Clacton in fact it is the only area I wanted to stand in .Because I live here and love the place . Clacton to me still represents some of the greatest aspects of British society. People help each other communities are strong and conscientious we have some of the greatest beaches in Britain.
Clacton always has for me evoked what Britain is. Although not without its problems and problem areas it is still full of conscientious, hard-working, fair-minded, caring decent people. It literally still embodies all the wonderful things about growing up in our great country.
We are British and proud of it people care about each other it is a wonderful place that like every other area of Britain is in crisis.I want to stop the rot and make Clacton the great place it once was and should be. I feel it has been let down in both local and national representation over the last decade or more. Clacton needs a people’s champion, Clacton deserves one of its own to represent it in Westminster. I and my party will fight tooth and nail for every resident and every business in this great constituency. A representative who is accessible who understands the struggles that people face in their daily lives and is prepared to do whatever it takes to defend and improve our constituency and our way of life
“I want to end the endless waste of Tendring District Council, I want to make the basic services functionable again”
What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?
There are many issues in Clacton as there are all over the country. But I want to bring zero tolerance policing to Clacton so everyone can go about their business peaceably. I want to improve the crumbling infrastructure, the roads and public transport. I want to end the endless waste of Tendring District Council, I want to make the basic services functionable again. Our rubbish, our transport, our roads, our small businesses, our town centre, our streets, all have room for improvement we need to get the basics right before we spend a single penny on any vanity or EDI projects. Make Clacton work again and clean it up.
Make sure Clacton’s services are fit for purpose, we have pockets of areas that have open drug dealing, rising crime, absent policing, poor medical provision, poor social services, and poor basic services. It has got to be changed.
For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?
I can be contacted/followed on:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Reform UK Clacton
Facebook Group: Reform UK Clacton
X/Twitter: @AMack30294
Instagram: Anthonymackreformuk
TikTok: @tonymackreform
