This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/10/world/europe/uk-independence-party-british-parliament.html

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
U.K. Independence Party May Win Parliament Seat in Clacton-on-Sea U.K. Independence Party May Win Parliament Seat in Clacton-on-Sea
(about 5 hours later)
CLACTON-ON-SEA, England — This fraying seaside town northeast of London is known for its pier and for having one of the highest proportions of retired people in the country. CLACTON-ON-SEA, England — This fraying seaside town northeast of London is known for its pier and for having one of the highest proportions of retired people in the country.
“A friendly resort, trying not to die,” Matthew Parris, a columnist and former Conservative lawmaker, wrote in The Times of London last month. His article created a furor here, in part because he went on to say, “Only in Asmara after Eritrea’s bloody war have I encountered a greater proportion of citizens on crutches or in wheelchairs.”“A friendly resort, trying not to die,” Matthew Parris, a columnist and former Conservative lawmaker, wrote in The Times of London last month. His article created a furor here, in part because he went on to say, “Only in Asmara after Eritrea’s bloody war have I encountered a greater proportion of citizens on crutches or in wheelchairs.”
Whatever their state of health, voters here could make history in a parliamentary by-election on Thursday if they elect a lawmaker from the populist U.K. Independence Party, known as UKIP, allowing the party to enter Parliament for the first time. Whatever their state of health, voters here could make history in a parliamentary by-election on Thursday if they pick a lawmaker from the populist U.K. Independence Party, known as UKIP, allowing the party to enter the House of Commons for the first time.
The Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister David Cameron, frets that the populist UKIP, which opposes immigration and wants Britain to leave the European Union, could go on to receive enough votes in next year’s general election to deprive the Conservatives of victory. The Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister David Cameron, frets that the U.K. Independence Party, which opposes immigration and wants Britain to leave the European Union, could go on to win enough votes in next year’s general election to deprive the Conservatives of victory.
The opposition Labour Party also faced a challenge from the U.K. Independence Party on Thursday, in a separate by-election in Heywood and Middleton, on the outskirts of Manchester. Though Labour is unlikely to lose, it worries that some of its traditional support may be moving to the right-wing group. The opposition Labour Party also faced a challenge Thursday from the U.K. Independence Party in a separate by-election in Heywood and Middleton, on the outskirts of Manchester. Though Labour is unlikely to lose, it worries that some of its traditional support may be shifting.
Despite successes in European elections, the U.K. Independence Party has never won a parliamentary seat in Britain. Its leader, the charismatic Nigel Farage, told The Daily Telegraph that victory in Clacton-on-Sea would shift the tectonic plates of British politics, while a win in both seats would be a “Krakatau moment.”Despite successes in European elections, the U.K. Independence Party has never won a parliamentary seat in Britain. Its leader, the charismatic Nigel Farage, told The Daily Telegraph that victory in Clacton-on-Sea would shift the tectonic plates of British politics, while a win in both seats would be a “Krakatau moment.”
With higher than average unemployment and lower than average wages, Clacton-on-Sea is typical of the kinds of towns where the established parties are losing support. With higher-than-average unemployment and lower-than-average wages, Clacton-on-Sea is typical of towns where the established parties are losing support.
“I would put my house and my career on UKIP winning Clacton,” said Matthew Goodwin, a professor of politics at the University of Nottingham. “There are a lot of old, white working-class pensioners, few middle-class university graduates and few minorities — in short, a lot of people who like to vote for UKIP and relatively few of those who don’t.” “I would put my house and my career on UKIP winning Clacton,” said Matthew Goodwin, a politics professor at the University of Nottingham. “There are a lot of old, white working-class pensioners, few middle-class university graduates and few minorities — in short, a lot of people who like to vote for UKIP and relatively few of those who don’t.”
For the Conservatives, the by-election is doubly unnerving as the party loses both voters and members to the U.K. Independence Party.For the Conservatives, the by-election is doubly unnerving as the party loses both voters and members to the U.K. Independence Party.
The U.K. Independence Party’s candidate in Clacton-on-Sea is the former Conservative lawmaker Douglas Carswell, a popular local figure who won the seat for the Tories in 2010. Mark Reckless, another Conservative lawmaker, has also defected.The U.K. Independence Party’s candidate in Clacton-on-Sea is the former Conservative lawmaker Douglas Carswell, a popular local figure who won the seat for the Tories in 2010. Mark Reckless, another Conservative lawmaker, has also defected.
Speaking as he knocked on doors in the driving rain this week, Mr. Carswell said the mainstream parties were out of touch. The voters — or, as he put it, “the customers” — are “getting a bum deal from the political system right across the country — that’s felt particularly strongly here.” When one voter stopped him, he promised to take up her complaints about inadequate street lighting and policing. As he knocked on doors in the driving rain this week, Mr. Carswell said the mainstream parties were out of touch. The voters — or, as he put it, “the customers” — are “getting a bum deal from the political system right across the country; that’s felt particularly strongly here.” When one voter stopped him, he promised to take up her complaints about inadequate street lighting and policing.
Mr. Carswell described the article by Mr. Parris as “sneering, condescending, obnoxious and very sad”; he rejected the idea that voters here feel left behind or ignored. He called Mr. Parris’s article “sneering, condescending, obnoxious and very sad”; he rejected the idea that voters here feel left behind or ignored.
Some disagree, however. Since the 1960s, Clacton-on-Sea has struggled to adapt to a decline in tourism as vacationers head abroad to more affordable, sunnier beaches. To the annoyance of some residents, vacant accommodation is now used to house welfare recipients or newly released prisoners. But some disagree. Since the 1960s, Clacton-on-Sea has struggled to adapt to a decline in tourism as vacationers go abroad to more affordable, sunnier beaches. To the annoyance of some residents, vacant accommodation is now used to house welfare recipients or newly released prisoners.
While parts of the constituency are affluent, the suburb of Jaywick, which has many simple one-story beachside homes, was described in a government study as one of the country’s most deprived neighborhoods.While parts of the constituency are affluent, the suburb of Jaywick, which has many simple one-story beachside homes, was described in a government study as one of the country’s most deprived neighborhoods.
“People around here believe that Jaywick has been forgotten and that the government does not support it,” said Andrew McGeever, 32, the manager of the local pharmacy. There is high demand for medication to treat diabetes and lung diseases, he said, with health problems often caused by “poor lifestyle, heavy use of drink or drugs.”“People around here believe that Jaywick has been forgotten and that the government does not support it,” said Andrew McGeever, 32, the manager of the local pharmacy. There is high demand for medication to treat diabetes and lung diseases, he said, with health problems often caused by “poor lifestyle, heavy use of drink or drugs.”
Mr. McGeever, who said he planned to vote Conservative, added: “People are disillusioned here and a high proportion don’t vote because they feel it doesn’t make any difference.” Mr. McGeever, who said he planned to vote Conservative, added, “People are disillusioned here, and a high proportion don’t vote because they feel it doesn’t make any difference.”
Mary Barber, 57, who works at a museum near Clacton’s pier, said she planned to vote for the U.K. Independence Party because she felt let down by other politicians. Immigration needs to be reined in, said Ms. Barber, who most recently voted for Labour. “We haven’t got enough jobs for our own people even without letting other people come in and take them over,” she added. Mary Barber, 57, who works at a museum near Clacton’s pier, said she planned to vote for the U.K. Independence Party because she felt let down by other leaders. Immigration needs to be reined in, said Ms. Barber, who most recently voted for Labour. “We haven’t got enough jobs for our own people even without letting other people come in and take them over,” she added.
The cabinet office minister, Francis Maude, out campaigning for the Conservative candidate, Giles Watling, said Wednesday that 3,500 jobs had been created in the area in recent years. He urged voters to stick with his party, arguing that in next year’s general election the choice would be between the Tories and Labour. The cabinet office minister, Francis Maude, out campaigning for the Conservative candidate, Giles Watling, said Wednesday that 3,500 jobs had been created in the area in recent years. He urged voters to stick with his party, arguing that in the 2015 general election the choice would be between the Tories and Labour.
But at the moment some voters who would seem natural Conservative supporters are following Mr. Carswell to the U.K. Independence Party. But at the moment, some voters who would seem natural Conservative supporters are following Mr. Carswell.
“We are the forgotten child of Essex,” said Stephen Woodward, 32, the owner of the Taste coffee shop, referring to the local county. Mr. Woodward said his business was profitable year-round partly because it welcomes older customers. But Clacton, he said, has failed to adapt to changing times. “We are the forgotten child of Essex,” said Stephen Woodward, 32, the owner of the Taste coffee shop, referring to the county. Mr. Woodward said his business was profitable year-round partly because it welcomes older customers. But Clacton, he said, has failed to adapt to changing times.
Some local stores “haven’t had a lick of paint since the 1960s,” he said. “Part of the reason for UKIP’s success is because we need change and the Conservative government has not made that happen.”Some local stores “haven’t had a lick of paint since the 1960s,” he said. “Part of the reason for UKIP’s success is because we need change and the Conservative government has not made that happen.”
Mr. Woodward plans to vote Conservative in next year’s general election, but not on Thursday, when he opted for the U.K. Independence Party. “It’s a way to send a message,” he said. Mr. Woodward planned to vote Conservative in next year’s general election, but not on Thursday, when he opted for the U.K. Independence Party. “It’s a way to send a message,” he said.