UKIP crushed the ruling Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties
- Conservatives come in 3rd place. Liberal Democrats at 7th place.
- Ukip is managing to reach out to disillusioned former Labour and Liberal Democrat voters as well as Conservatives.
Labour coasted to a comfortable victory today in the South Shields by-election, with the UK Independence Party finishing in a strong second place.
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The contest was triggered by the decision of the former Foreign Secretary,
David Miliband, to stand down to become the head of a charity based in New
York.
Defeat in a seat Labour has held for 78 years would have been a disaster for the party, but Emma Lewell-Buck, a South Tyneside councillor, held on with 12,493 votes and 50 per cent share of the vote reports the UK Independent.
But the party saw its majority cut to 6,505 as Ukip’s Richard Elvin won 5,988 votes. At the general election Mr Miliband piled up a majority of 11,109.
Ukip did not even stand in South Shields three years ago, but appears to have benefited from a fall in support from all three major parties.
Its impressive performance follows its second place finishes in recent by-elections in Eastleigh, Middlesbrough and Rotherham.
It underlines the momentum building behind the anti-European Union party across much of England and suggests Ukip is managing to reach out to disillusioned former Labour and Liberal Democrat voters as well as Conservatives.
The Conservatives came third with just 2,857 votes, while the Liberal Democrats suffered the indignity of losing their deposit as they finished seventh with 352 votes. Nick Clegg's party trailed in behind two independent candidates and the British National Party.
UKIP Party Election Broadcast: Common Sense on Immigration
UKIP England local council elections
Defeat in a seat Labour has held for 78 years would have been a disaster for the party, but Emma Lewell-Buck, a South Tyneside councillor, held on with 12,493 votes and 50 per cent share of the vote reports the UK Independent.
But the party saw its majority cut to 6,505 as Ukip’s Richard Elvin won 5,988 votes. At the general election Mr Miliband piled up a majority of 11,109.
Ukip did not even stand in South Shields three years ago, but appears to have benefited from a fall in support from all three major parties.
Its impressive performance follows its second place finishes in recent by-elections in Eastleigh, Middlesbrough and Rotherham.
It underlines the momentum building behind the anti-European Union party across much of England and suggests Ukip is managing to reach out to disillusioned former Labour and Liberal Democrat voters as well as Conservatives.
The Conservatives came third with just 2,857 votes, while the Liberal Democrats suffered the indignity of losing their deposit as they finished seventh with 352 votes. Nick Clegg's party trailed in behind two independent candidates and the British National Party.
UKIP Party Election Broadcast: Common Sense on Immigration
UKIP England local council elections
South Shields by-election, 2013 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | Emma Lewell-Buck | 12,493 | 50.4 | -1.6 | |
UKIP | Richard Elvin | 5,988 | 24.2 | N/A | |
Conservative | Karen Allen | 2,857 | 11.5 | -10.1 | |
Independent | Ahmed Khan | 1,331 | 5.4 | N/A | |
Independent Socialist Party | Phil Brown | 750 | 3.0 | N/A | |
BNP | Lady Dorothy MacBeth Brookes | 711 | 2.9 | -3.6 | |
Liberal Democrat | Hugh Annand | 352 | 1.4 | -12.8 | |
Monster Raving Loony | Alan "Howling Laud" Hope | 197 | 0.8 | N/A | |
Independent | Thomas Darwood | 57 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Majority | 6,505 | 26.3 | -4.1 | ||
Turnout | 24,780 | 39.3 | -18.4 |
Warning to American Readers
Do not be confused. This is called a free election where voters have many real choices. Don't worry. That odd longing you are feeling will soon pass and you can return to your "normal" world of fixed and phony two party U.S. elections.
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UKIP leader Nigel Farage is a clever tactician, seeking out those disaffected by issues ranging from wind farms to gay marriage. |
Local elections: UKIP makes gains as Tories defend council strongholds
- The UK Independence Party have made early gains as the results of council elections across England are declared.
The UK Independence Party have made
early gains as the results of council elections across England are declared.
UKIP have won at least 26 seats so far and are averaging 26% of the vote in the wards where they are standing.
Polling expert Prof John Curtice said it was a "remarkable performance" reports BBC News.
The Conservatives have lost control of Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire councils, but retained five others, while Labour made modest gains in the Midlands and the south of England.
Contests are taking place in 27 English county councils and seven unitary authorities as well as Anglesey in Wales. About 2,300 council seats are up for grabs in England, in a major mid-term test for the coalition government.
Most of the counts will take place later on Friday.
UKIP is riding high in the opinion polls and fielded more than 1,700 candidates - three times the number that stood in 2009.
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