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Local elections: Nigel Farage hails UKIP's 'remarkable' night | Local elections: Nigel Farage hails UKIP's 'remarkable' night |
(35 minutes later) | |
UKIP leader Nigel Farage has hailed early gains in council elections across England as "remarkable" for the party. | UKIP leader Nigel Farage has hailed early gains in council elections across England as "remarkable" for the party. |
UKIP has won 42 seats so far and is averaging 25% of the vote in the wards where it is standing. | |
Mr Farage said it put his party in a "very strong position" in the run-up to the next general election. | Mr Farage said it put his party in a "very strong position" in the run-up to the next general election. |
The Conservatives have lost control of two councils, but retained five others, while Labour made modest gains in the Midlands and the south of England. | The Conservatives have lost control of two 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 in Anglesey. About 2,300 council seats are up for grabs in England, in a major mid-term test for the coalition government. | Contests are taking place in 27 English county councils and seven unitary authorities, as well as in Anglesey. 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. | Most of the counts will take place later on Friday. |
In other developments: | In other developments: |
Tory strongholds | Tory strongholds |
The Conservatives had braced themselves for a tough night, with David Cameron admitting that voters liked to punish governing parties between general elections. | The Conservatives had braced themselves for a tough night, with David Cameron admitting that voters liked to punish governing parties between general elections. |
The Tories are defending thousands of seats last fought in 2009 - when they were in opposition and when Labour had its worst night in local election history. | The Tories are defending thousands of seats last fought in 2009 - when they were in opposition and when Labour had its worst night in local election history. |
Of the seven county councils to declare so far, the Tories retained control of traditional council strongholds Essex, Dorset, Hampshire and Hertfordshire, as well as Somerset. | Of the seven county councils to declare so far, the Tories retained control of traditional council strongholds Essex, Dorset, Hampshire and Hertfordshire, as well as Somerset. |
But they lost their majorities on Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire county councils, which moved to no overall control, as both Labour and UKIP made gains. | But they lost their majorities on Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire county councils, which moved to no overall control, as both Labour and UKIP made gains. |
Nearly 10,000 candidates were battling for seats in English county councils and unitary authorities - "top-tier" authorities in charge of schools, roads, refuse collection and fire and rescue among other services. | Nearly 10,000 candidates were battling for seats in English county councils and unitary authorities - "top-tier" authorities in charge of schools, roads, refuse collection and fire and rescue among other services. |
Labour is expected to claw back ground in the north of England and make some progress in the south. In an early success, it took a seat from the Conservatives in Dorset on a 12% swing but party strategists are playing down expectations of major gains. | Labour is expected to claw back ground in the north of England and make some progress in the south. In an early success, it took a seat from the Conservatives in Dorset on a 12% swing but party strategists are playing down expectations of major gains. |
UKIP surge | UKIP surge |
UKIP is riding high in the opinion polls and fielded more than 1,700 candidates - three times the number that stood in 2009, when the party won just seven council seats. | UKIP is riding high in the opinion polls and fielded more than 1,700 candidates - three times the number that stood in 2009, when the party won just seven council seats. |
So far, the party has won 16 seats in Lincolnshire - where it is now the official opposition. | So far, the party has won 16 seats in Lincolnshire - where it is now the official opposition. |
The party, which campaigns for the UK to leave the European Union, has been polling 12 points higher, on average, than in wards where it stood in 2009. | The party, which campaigns for the UK to leave the European Union, has been polling 12 points higher, on average, than in wards where it stood in 2009. |
UKIP's Nigel Farage told the BBC Radio 4's Today Programme that "the people who vote for us are rejecting the establishment and quite right too". | UKIP's Nigel Farage told the BBC Radio 4's Today Programme that "the people who vote for us are rejecting the establishment and quite right too". |
"Three parties, three fronts benches who look the same and sound the same and made up of people who basically have never had a job in the real world," he said. | "Three parties, three fronts benches who look the same and sound the same and made up of people who basically have never had a job in the real world," he said. |
"But are they voting UKIP just to stick two fingers up and to scream very loudly or are they voting UKIP because we're offering positive policy alternatives?" | "But are they voting UKIP just to stick two fingers up and to scream very loudly or are they voting UKIP because we're offering positive policy alternatives?" |
"I don't think these votes are going away quickly," he added. | "I don't think these votes are going away quickly," he added. |
'Get the message' | 'Get the message' |
He said the results put UKIP in a "very strong position" in the run-up to the next general election, but acknowledged that "when it comes to a general election we do have a problem, which is the first past the post election system". | He said the results put UKIP in a "very strong position" in the run-up to the next general election, but acknowledged that "when it comes to a general election we do have a problem, which is the first past the post election system". |
He later confirmed on BBC Radio Kent that he would stand as a candidate at the next general election. In 2010 he unsuccessfully contested Speaker John Bercow's seat of Buckingham. | |
Reacting to the results, Conservative Party co-chairman Grant Shapps said it had "not been a great night for any of the main parties". | Reacting to the results, Conservative Party co-chairman Grant Shapps said it had "not been a great night for any of the main parties". |
"I do think we absolutely get the message," he told the BBC. | "I do think we absolutely get the message," he told the BBC. |
"People want to see the economy fixed, welfare capped, help for hard-working people. We are starting to make progress in those areas... but there is much to do and that is what these results are really all about." | "People want to see the economy fixed, welfare capped, help for hard-working people. We are starting to make progress in those areas... but there is much to do and that is what these results are really all about." |
Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said UKIP's rise was a "wake-up call" to other parties. | Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said UKIP's rise was a "wake-up call" to other parties. |
"We should listen very seriously if people are feeling disaffected and disenchanted," she said on the BBC's Question Time programme. | "We should listen very seriously if people are feeling disaffected and disenchanted," she said on the BBC's Question Time programme. |
"It is a challenge to us, it's a wake-up call for us to actually listen to people who feel that times are hard and wonder whether any of us have actually got the answers." | "It is a challenge to us, it's a wake-up call for us to actually listen to people who feel that times are hard and wonder whether any of us have actually got the answers." |
Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes said UKIP had made progress in some areas, but said it was "patchy". | Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes said UKIP had made progress in some areas, but said it was "patchy". |
The result of the Doncaster mayoral contest will be known later on Friday. Incumbent Peter Davies is fighting for re-election as an independent after quitting the English Democrats. | The result of the Doncaster mayoral contest will be known later on Friday. Incumbent Peter Davies is fighting for re-election as an independent after quitting the English Democrats. |
Local council elections were also held in Anglesey, which is currently classified as no overall control but is dominated by independents. | Local council elections were also held in Anglesey, which is currently classified as no overall control but is dominated by independents. |
No elections took place in London, Scotland, Northern Ireland or anywhere in Wales other than Anglesey. | No elections took place in London, Scotland, Northern Ireland or anywhere in Wales other than Anglesey. |