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Local elections: Nigel Farage hails UKIP's 'remarkable' night Local elections: Nigel Farage hails UKIP's 'remarkable' results
(about 1 hour 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 gains in council elections across England as "remarkable" for the party.
UKIP has won 74 seats so far and is averaging 25% of the vote in the wards where it is standing. UKIP has won 92 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. The Conservatives have lost control of nine councils, but retained 15, while Labour has gained one council and boosted its councillors by over 150.
The Conservatives have lost control of three councils, but retained five, while Labour made modest gains in the Midlands and the south of England. David Cameron said he would "work really hard to win back" supporters who had decided to vote for UKIP.
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.
Compared with 2009, when these seats were last fought, the Conservative share of the vote is down by 9% and the Lib Dems are down by 12%. The Labour share is up by 7%, but it is still five points lower than it was in 2005. UKIP has seen the biggest boost, with its vote share up by 13%. Four party politics
Most of the councils are counting throughout Friday, with nearly half of councils yet to declare. The BBC's projected national share of the vote has Labour in the lead with 29% of the vote and the Conservatives in second place with 25%. UKIP are in third place with 23% of votes and the Lib Dems are fourth with 14%.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the vote shares confirmed four party politics were at play in these elections, but it was still unclear if this would carry through to a general election.
Responding to the success of UKIP, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "We need to show respect for people who have taken the choice to support this party and we are going to work really hard to win them back."
In other developments:In other developments:
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 21 councils to declare so far, the Tories retained control of traditional council strongholds like Wiltshire, Shropshire, West Sussex, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Dorset, Hampshire and Hertfordshire, as well as Somerset and Devon. Of the 28 councils to declare so far, the Tories retained control of traditional council strongholds like Wiltshire, Shropshire, West Sussex, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Dorset, Hampshire and Hertfordshire, as well as Somerset and Devon.
But they lost their majorities on Lancashire, Gloucestershire, Lincolnshire, Warwickshire, Norfolk and East Sussex councils, which moved to no overall control, as both Labour and UKIP made gains. But they lost their majorities on nine of their 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. Labour has made progress in the Midlands, taking control of Derbyshire county council, which it lost in 2009. It has also made double digit gains in Cumbria, Warwickshire and Hertfordshire.
It has taken control of Derbyshire county council, which it lost in 2009, gaining 18 councillors, and has also made double digit gains in Cumbria, Warwickshire and Hertfordshire. The party has boosted its number of councillors by over 150, but this is still short of the 200 they were aiming for.
UKIP surgeUKIP surge
The most eye-catching performance so far has been from UKIP, which is riding high in the opinion polls and fielded 1,700 candidates, three times the number that stood in 2009, when the party won just seven council seats.The most eye-catching performance so far has been from UKIP, which is riding high in the opinion polls and fielded 1,700 candidates, three times the number that stood in 2009, when the party won just seven council seats.
So far, the party has become the official opposition in Lincolnshire, where it won 16 councillors, and Norfolk, where it won 15 councillors.So far, the party has become the official opposition in Lincolnshire, where it won 16 councillors, and Norfolk, where it won 15 councillors.
It has taken seats in councils like Essex and Hampshire, where it previously had no councillors, but failed to pick up any seats in a number of councils including Hertfordshire, Warwickshire, North Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria and Derbyshire.It has taken seats in councils like Essex and Hampshire, where it previously had no councillors, but failed to pick up any seats in a number of councils including Hertfordshire, Warwickshire, North Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria and Derbyshire.
The party, which campaigns for the UK to leave the European Union, has been polling 13 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 13 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 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.
'Major lesson'
"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.
'Bonkeroony'
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.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". David Cameron said the gains made by UKIP were a "major lesson" for the three main Westminster parties.
"I do think we absolutely get the message," he told the BBC. "For the Conservatives I understand why some people who have supported us before didn't support us again, they want us to do even more to work for hard-working people to sort out the issues they care about," he said.
"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." "More to help with the cost of living, more to turn the economy round, more to get immigration down, to sort out the welfare system. They will be our focus, they are our focus, but we have got to do more."
Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said UKIP's rise was a "wake-up call" to other parties. 'Bonkeroony'
"We should listen very seriously if people are feeling disaffected and disenchanted," she said on the BBC's Question Time programme. Labour leader Ed Miliband said he was pleased with his party's results but acknowledged the party still had more work to do.
"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." He told the BBC: "I also recognise - having gone round the country during this campaign - the vote for UKIP, the two thirds of people who didn't vote, that there are still lots of people saying can anyone turn this country round? I believe Labour can and we're carrying on that work to convince people that we can."
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".
And Lib Dem business secretary Vince Cable said the UKIP rise had to be taken seriously, likening their surge to that seen in recent Italian elections - saying they showed the appeal of the "humorous right" over "nasty fascists".And Lib Dem business secretary Vince Cable said the UKIP rise had to be taken seriously, likening their surge to that seen in recent Italian elections - saying they showed the appeal of the "humorous right" over "nasty fascists".
Education Secretary Michael Gove, asked what he thought about a councillor's call for a new Conservative leader, said the idea was "barmy" and "bonkeroony".Education Secretary Michael Gove, asked what he thought about a councillor's call for a new Conservative leader, said the idea was "barmy" and "bonkeroony".
The result of the Doncaster mayoral contest will be known later on Friday. Incumbent Peter Davies looks like he has made it through to the second round in a head-to-head with the Labour candidate - he 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 looks like he has made it through to the second round in a head-to-head with the Labour candidate - he 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.