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UKIP nul points! Brexit party decimated in local elections UKIP nul points! Brexit party decimated in local elections
(35 minutes later)
The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) has fallen to a new low after failing to hold on to a single seat in local council elections.The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) has fallen to a new low after failing to hold on to a single seat in local council elections.
Douglas Carswell, who used to be the party’s only MP, said UKIP is ‘done’ now that it has lost dozens of seats to Britain’s leading Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.Douglas Carswell, who used to be the party’s only MP, said UKIP is ‘done’ now that it has lost dozens of seats to Britain’s leading Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.
Results from 15 different councils saw UKIP failing to win a single contest, as it lost all 30 of its seats.Results from 15 different councils saw UKIP failing to win a single contest, as it lost all 30 of its seats.
‘UKIP 0’ is now trending on social media in a mockery of the party’s disastrous performance.‘UKIP 0’ is now trending on social media in a mockery of the party’s disastrous performance.
Others mocked Ukip leader Paul Nuttall...Others mocked Ukip leader Paul Nuttall...
Paul Nuttall’s party lost seats in Lincolnshire, Hampshire, and Essex – key battlegrounds for UKIP in next month’s general election.Paul Nuttall’s party lost seats in Lincolnshire, Hampshire, and Essex – key battlegrounds for UKIP in next month’s general election.
Carswell tweeted “Job done” as it became clear the party had been wiped out at the ballot box.Carswell tweeted “Job done” as it became clear the party had been wiped out at the ballot box.
“The Europeanism that possessed the upper echelons of the Tory party for 40 yrs today looks like an aberration,” he wrote.“The Europeanism that possessed the upper echelons of the Tory party for 40 yrs today looks like an aberration,” he wrote.
“We won.”“We won.”
He said speculation about the right being torn apart by Euroskepticism is unfounded, as anti-EU sentiments have actually “reunited us.”He said speculation about the right being torn apart by Euroskepticism is unfounded, as anti-EU sentiments have actually “reunited us.”
UKIP’s share of the national vote could now plunge to three percent, down from 22 percent in the same contests in 2013, according to an election expert, University of Plymouth Professor Michael Thrasher.UKIP’s share of the national vote could now plunge to three percent, down from 22 percent in the same contests in 2013, according to an election expert, University of Plymouth Professor Michael Thrasher.
“UKIP received one in eight votes cast at the 2015 general election, and therefore those votes are absolutely critical in a month’s time at the general election,” Professor Thrasher told Sky News.“UKIP received one in eight votes cast at the 2015 general election, and therefore those votes are absolutely critical in a month’s time at the general election,” Professor Thrasher told Sky News.
“The indications from the local elections are that UKIP is losing all of its councillors and it’s the Conservatives that are making the gains on the basis of that collapse.”“The indications from the local elections are that UKIP is losing all of its councillors and it’s the Conservatives that are making the gains on the basis of that collapse.”
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UKIP’s Lisa Duffy refused to brand the outcome a “disaster,” but admitted the night had been “challenging.”UKIP’s Lisa Duffy refused to brand the outcome a “disaster,” but admitted the night had been “challenging.”
“I won’t use the word ‘disaster,’ I’ll use the word ‘challenging,’” she told the BBC.“I won’t use the word ‘disaster,’ I’ll use the word ‘challenging,’” she told the BBC.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult night.”“We knew it was going to be a difficult night.”
UKIP local government spokesman Peter Reeve told the BBC that Thursday’s results do not signal the party is no longer needed.UKIP local government spokesman Peter Reeve told the BBC that Thursday’s results do not signal the party is no longer needed.
“[This] couldn’t be further from the truth,” he said.“[This] couldn’t be further from the truth,” he said.
“Even if we don’t win a single seat later on today, UKIP still has 300 councillors across the country and is still a very relevant, real voice in local politics."“Even if we don’t win a single seat later on today, UKIP still has 300 councillors across the country and is still a very relevant, real voice in local politics."
He added the party, which championed the ‘Leave’ cause during the EU referendum last June, has and always will lead the national agenda.He added the party, which championed the ‘Leave’ cause during the EU referendum last June, has and always will lead the national agenda.
“What is also true is we continue – and have done for many years – to control the national agenda and the government agenda. They didn’t want to have a referendum on Brexit, UKIP forced that on them, they were terrified of us and they did it.”“What is also true is we continue – and have done for many years – to control the national agenda and the government agenda. They didn’t want to have a referendum on Brexit, UKIP forced that on them, they were terrified of us and they did it.”