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Populist Party Fails to Capture Seat in British Parliament Populist Party Fails to Capture Seat in British Parliament
(about 9 hours later)
LONDON — Despite momentum from a surprisingly strong showing in recent European elections, the populist right-wing U.K. Independence Party failed to win its first seat in the British Parliament when it finished second to the Conservative candidate in a special election, results announced Friday showed. LONDON — Despite momentum from a surprisingly strong showing in recent European elections, the populist right-wing United Kingdom Independence Party failed to win its first seat in the British Parliament when it finished second to the Conservative candidate in a special election, according to results announced Friday.
The Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister David Cameron, held the seat in Newark, in central England, but its majority was greatly reduced from the 2010 general election. The Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister David Cameron, held the seat in Newark, in central England, but its margin of victory was greatly reduced from that of the 2010 general election.
With another general election due next year, the contest had been watched closely following the Independence Party’s performance in elections last month for the European Parliament, in which it won more than 27 percent of the vote in Britain and secured 24 seats. The party campaigns to curb immigration and for Britain to quit the European Union. With another general election due next year, the contest had been watched closely following the Independence Party’s performance in elections last month for the European Parliament, in which it won more than 27 percent of the vote in Britain and secured 24 seats. The party campaigns to curb immigration and wants Britain to quit the European Union.
The Conservative Party’s candidate in Newark, Robert Jenrick, won 17,431 votes in the election held on Thursday to fill a seat previously held by Patrick Mercer, who resigned after a lobbying scandal. The Independence Party candidate, Roger Helmer, finished second with 10,028 votes. Labour, Britain’s main opposition party, finished third with 6,842 votes, with the Liberal Democrats, the junior party in Mr. Cameron’s coalition government, in sixth place.The Conservative Party’s candidate in Newark, Robert Jenrick, won 17,431 votes in the election held on Thursday to fill a seat previously held by Patrick Mercer, who resigned after a lobbying scandal. The Independence Party candidate, Roger Helmer, finished second with 10,028 votes. Labour, Britain’s main opposition party, finished third with 6,842 votes, with the Liberal Democrats, the junior party in Mr. Cameron’s coalition government, in sixth place.
The Conservatives, who had a majority of more than 16,000 votes in Newark in the 2010 general election, poured resources into the contest and Mr. Cameron himself visited four times. The Conservatives, who led by more than 16,000 votes in Newark in the 2010 general election, poured resources into the contest and Mr. Cameron himself visited four times.
“This is a very good result for the Conservative party and for the government, " Mr. Cameron said Friday. “By-elections are notoriously tricky. The last time we won one in government was over 20 years ago, and it’s a good result because we worked hard, we had an excellent candidate and we had a very clear message about our long-term economic plan.” “This is a very good result for the Conservative Party and for the government, " Mr. Cameron said Friday. “By-elections are notoriously tricky. The last time we won one in government was over 20 years ago, and it’s a good result because we worked hard, we had an excellent candidate and we had a very clear message about our long-term economic plan.”
In 2009, the Independence Party won more than 16 percent of the vote in European elections, but polled just 3.1 percent overall in the British general election in 2010. Analysts say voters are more likely to register a protest vote in European elections than in ballots to elect a national government. In 2009, the Independence Party won more than 16 percent of the vote in European elections, but polled just 3.1 percent over all in the British general election in 2010. Analysts say voters are more likely to register a protest vote in European elections than in ballots to elect a national government.