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| Britain’s Discontent Lifts Populist Party to Even Stronger Vote Tally Than Expected | Britain’s Discontent Lifts Populist Party to Even Stronger Vote Tally Than Expected |
| (4 months later) | |
| LONDON — Voters in Britain sent a forceful message of discontent to established political parties on Friday, as returns from local elections showed an even stronger following than expected for the anti-European Union, anti-immigration United Kingdom Independence Party. | |
| The results had an immediate impact across the political spectrum, hurting the Labour Party as well as the partners in the governing coalition, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. The outcome is likely to increase the pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron to take an even harder line on reducing the powers of the European Union. | The results had an immediate impact across the political spectrum, hurting the Labour Party as well as the partners in the governing coalition, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. The outcome is likely to increase the pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron to take an even harder line on reducing the powers of the European Union. |
| The local vote is expected to presage another strong showing for the Independence Party in elections for the European Parliament when those votes are counted late on Sunday. Some opinion polls showed the party with slightly more support than the other parties in the European voting, which took place on Thursday, the same day as the local balloting. | The local vote is expected to presage another strong showing for the Independence Party in elections for the European Parliament when those votes are counted late on Sunday. Some opinion polls showed the party with slightly more support than the other parties in the European voting, which took place on Thursday, the same day as the local balloting. |
| Coming on the heels of a strong showing in France’s local elections for the right-wing National Front party of Marine Le Pen, the returns provide a clear signal of the dissatisfaction of Europeans with their mainstream political parties, as well as with the European Union political establishment after six years of economic doldrums, which is still being felt by many despite hints of recovery. | Coming on the heels of a strong showing in France’s local elections for the right-wing National Front party of Marine Le Pen, the returns provide a clear signal of the dissatisfaction of Europeans with their mainstream political parties, as well as with the European Union political establishment after six years of economic doldrums, which is still being felt by many despite hints of recovery. |
| In Britain, the strong showing for the Independence Party will not only leave Mr. Cameron, a Conservative, further embattled, but will also embolden Labour Party critics who say that their leader, Ed Miliband, has not convinced voters of his leadership capacity. | In Britain, the strong showing for the Independence Party will not only leave Mr. Cameron, a Conservative, further embattled, but will also embolden Labour Party critics who say that their leader, Ed Miliband, has not convinced voters of his leadership capacity. |
| The Liberal Democrats, known for their strength locally, and their leader, the vocally pro-European Nick Clegg, were hit very hard by their usual voters, who are unhappy with the compromises of a coalition government. | The Liberal Democrats, known for their strength locally, and their leader, the vocally pro-European Nick Clegg, were hit very hard by their usual voters, who are unhappy with the compromises of a coalition government. |
| Nigel Farage, the Independence Party’s leader, said it was now “a serious player,” adding, “The UKIP fox is in the Westminster henhouse.” He appeared on British television for interviews dressed in a sober gray suit, but he celebrated with his trademark pint of beer, and said he would run for the British Parliament in the general election next May. | Nigel Farage, the Independence Party’s leader, said it was now “a serious player,” adding, “The UKIP fox is in the Westminster henhouse.” He appeared on British television for interviews dressed in a sober gray suit, but he celebrated with his trademark pint of beer, and said he would run for the British Parliament in the general election next May. |
| While right-wing parties skeptical of Europe are expected to do well all over the European Union in what is normally a low turnout, the Dutch went against the trend and put its right-wing Party for Freedom, led by Geert Wilders, into fourth place, behind pro-Europe parties, according to an exit poll conducted by Ipsos for Dutch TV. | While right-wing parties skeptical of Europe are expected to do well all over the European Union in what is normally a low turnout, the Dutch went against the trend and put its right-wing Party for Freedom, led by Geert Wilders, into fourth place, behind pro-Europe parties, according to an exit poll conducted by Ipsos for Dutch TV. |
| Mr. Wilders, whose party had been expected to top the Dutch voting, attributed his poor showing to a low turnout of around 35 percent. | Mr. Wilders, whose party had been expected to top the Dutch voting, attributed his poor showing to a low turnout of around 35 percent. |
| Still, despite its sweeping gains in the local British elections, the Independence Party will not control a single local council and does not have a single member in Parliament. Nor does it have a coherent set of economic policies. But Mr. Farage’s message — British values, British beer, controls on immigration from within the European Union and a British exit from the bloc — is clearly resonating with disaffected voters from across the spectrum who are angry about the cost of living, the drop in real income and years of austerity. | Still, despite its sweeping gains in the local British elections, the Independence Party will not control a single local council and does not have a single member in Parliament. Nor does it have a coherent set of economic policies. But Mr. Farage’s message — British values, British beer, controls on immigration from within the European Union and a British exit from the bloc — is clearly resonating with disaffected voters from across the spectrum who are angry about the cost of living, the drop in real income and years of austerity. |
| A similar message is echoed by other anti-Europe and more far-right parties, including the National Front in France and the Five Star Movement in Italy. | A similar message is echoed by other anti-Europe and more far-right parties, including the National Front in France and the Five Star Movement in Italy. |
| The Independence Party has already proved itself to be an alternative to the status quo, being to the right of the Conservatives but trying to avoid, or repress, the racism of far-right parties like the British National Party. It has touched a nerve with Britons who believe that jobs are being taken away by immigrants from countries like Romania, Bulgaria and Poland who have the right to travel and work freely within the European Union but are willing to work for lower salaries. | The Independence Party has already proved itself to be an alternative to the status quo, being to the right of the Conservatives but trying to avoid, or repress, the racism of far-right parties like the British National Party. It has touched a nerve with Britons who believe that jobs are being taken away by immigrants from countries like Romania, Bulgaria and Poland who have the right to travel and work freely within the European Union but are willing to work for lower salaries. |
| The party could deny the established parties an overall majority in the general election a year from now, with Tories especially concerned that the Independence Party will take away enough votes to block their victory in tight election districts. | The party could deny the established parties an overall majority in the general election a year from now, with Tories especially concerned that the Independence Party will take away enough votes to block their victory in tight election districts. |
| “UKIP should be extremely pleased with themselves,” said Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London. “But they still face this enormous hurdle of the electoral system, which is going to make it very difficult for them to convert even this level of support into parliamentary seats in 2015.” | “UKIP should be extremely pleased with themselves,” said Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London. “But they still face this enormous hurdle of the electoral system, which is going to make it very difficult for them to convert even this level of support into parliamentary seats in 2015.” |
| A YouGov poll published on Friday about voting intentions for the 2015 general election had the Independence Party at 14 percent, with the Conservatives and Labour tied at 34 percent each, and the Liberal Democrats at 9 percent. That could be bad news for Labour, too, which needs to have a larger share now, since polls traditionally narrow closer to Election Day. | A YouGov poll published on Friday about voting intentions for the 2015 general election had the Independence Party at 14 percent, with the Conservatives and Labour tied at 34 percent each, and the Liberal Democrats at 9 percent. That could be bad news for Labour, too, which needs to have a larger share now, since polls traditionally narrow closer to Election Day. |
| Mr. Clegg, who debated Mr. Farage twice and was considered to have been bested, said, “There’s a very strong antipolitics mood around, a restlessness and dissatisfaction with all the main parties.” He said he would not resign as the leader of the Liberal Democrats. | Mr. Clegg, who debated Mr. Farage twice and was considered to have been bested, said, “There’s a very strong antipolitics mood around, a restlessness and dissatisfaction with all the main parties.” He said he would not resign as the leader of the Liberal Democrats. |
| Mr. Cameron said he took away “a clear message” that “people want us to deliver more on issues that frustrate them and frustrate me.” He promised “to work flat out to deliver more on the economy, immigration and welfare.” He also vowed that he would not make any kind of electoral pact with the Independence Party. | Mr. Cameron said he took away “a clear message” that “people want us to deliver more on issues that frustrate them and frustrate me.” He promised “to work flat out to deliver more on the economy, immigration and welfare.” He also vowed that he would not make any kind of electoral pact with the Independence Party. |
| In the latest local results, with 154 of 161 councils declared, Labour had gained 292 seats, the Independence Party had gained 155, the Liberal Democrats had lost 284 and the Conservatives had lost 201. | In the latest local results, with 154 of 161 councils declared, Labour had gained 292 seats, the Independence Party had gained 155, the Liberal Democrats had lost 284 and the Conservatives had lost 201. |
| Though Labour, the main opposition party, also made gains, they were not as large as expected, and the Independence Party’s advances, which included some in traditional Labour heartlands in the north, spread alarm through Labour’s ranks, as well as those of the two governing parties. | Though Labour, the main opposition party, also made gains, they were not as large as expected, and the Independence Party’s advances, which included some in traditional Labour heartlands in the north, spread alarm through Labour’s ranks, as well as those of the two governing parties. |
| Despite important gains in London and some other parts of the country, Labour would normally hope to be polling better a year ahead of a general election. Mr. Miliband said he had taken note of the anxieties of those who opted for the Independence Party. “I am determined that over the next year we persuade them that we can change their lives for the better,” he said. | Despite important gains in London and some other parts of the country, Labour would normally hope to be polling better a year ahead of a general election. Mr. Miliband said he had taken note of the anxieties of those who opted for the Independence Party. “I am determined that over the next year we persuade them that we can change their lives for the better,” he said. |
| But except in areas of the southeast, the Independence Party’s vote appeared to be spread thinly, which means that it could emerge from 2015 with no parliamentary seats. In the British system, each election district has its own vote, and national percentages of the vote do not matter. | But except in areas of the southeast, the Independence Party’s vote appeared to be spread thinly, which means that it could emerge from 2015 with no parliamentary seats. In the British system, each election district has its own vote, and national percentages of the vote do not matter. |
| In the past, the party’s share of the vote dropped significantly in general elections. In 2010, it registered about 3 percent, a year after European elections in which it took more than 16 percent. | In the past, the party’s share of the vote dropped significantly in general elections. In 2010, it registered about 3 percent, a year after European elections in which it took more than 16 percent. |
| The rise of the party seemed implausible eight years ago, when Mr. Cameron, newly elected as the Conservative Party leader but not yet in power, described it as “a bunch of fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists.” | The rise of the party seemed implausible eight years ago, when Mr. Cameron, newly elected as the Conservative Party leader but not yet in power, described it as “a bunch of fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists.” |
| In all, 4,216 seats in 161 local councils in England and 462 seats in 11 local councils in Northern Ireland were up for election. | In all, 4,216 seats in 161 local councils in England and 462 seats in 11 local councils in Northern Ireland were up for election. |