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Nigel Farage says UKIP is targeting all voters in Rochester Nigel Farage says UKIP is targeting all voters in Rochester
(35 minutes later)
UKIP leader Nigel Farage has said his party is "targeting everybody", as he campaigns in Kent ahead of the Rochester and Strood by-election.UKIP leader Nigel Farage has said his party is "targeting everybody", as he campaigns in Kent ahead of the Rochester and Strood by-election.
Appearing with the party's candidate, former Conservative MP Mark Reckless, he ruled out a pact with the Tories, saying UKIP was "its own force". Mr Farage said UKIP was "its own force" and rejected any electoral pact with the Tories for the general election.
They were joined by ex-Tory, Douglas Carswell, whose success in Clacton made him UKIP's first elected MP. He was campaigning with two ex-Tories - Mark Reckless, who is standing for UKIP in Rochester, and Douglas Carswell, who has become UKIP's first elected MP.
Tory and Labour MPs have called for a response to UKIP's surge.Tory and Labour MPs have called for a response to UKIP's surge.
Mr Reckless, whose resignation triggered a by-election in Rochester and Strood, said UKIP would "bring decisions back from Westminster" and "put local communities in charge". Mr Reckless, whose resignation as the Conservative MP for Rochester and Strood triggered a by-election, said UKIP would "bring decisions back from Westminster" and "put local communities in charge".
Mr Carswell urged voters to "choose change". He praised Mr Reckless for his decision to seek voters' approval in a by-election and criticised other parties for conducting "a highly personal, aggressive smear campaign" against the UKIP candidate.Mr Carswell urged voters to "choose change". He praised Mr Reckless for his decision to seek voters' approval in a by-election and criticised other parties for conducting "a highly personal, aggressive smear campaign" against the UKIP candidate.
Mr Farage said the result of the poll in Clacton, which UKIP won by 12,404 votes, was "absolutely phenomenal". Mr Farage said the result of Thursday's poll in Clacton, which UKIP won by 12,404 votes, was "absolutely phenomenal".
He again dismissed Conservative claims that voters who switched support from the Tories to UKIP risked handing power to Labour.He again dismissed Conservative claims that voters who switched support from the Tories to UKIP risked handing power to Labour.
The evidence of Clacton was "vote UKIP, get UKIP", he said.The evidence of Clacton was "vote UKIP, get UKIP", he said.
The Rochester by-election is expected to take place next month.
'Good protest vote''Good protest vote'
Mr Farage said his party was "not a splinter" of the Tories and dismissed questions about any electoral pact with them.
"We want to win our own representation in Westminster and we believe only by doing that can we fundamentally change British politics," he said.
"To sell out so that one or two people can have ministerial positions is not what Ukip's about.
"I don't trust David Cameron. I don't believe a word David Cameron says and for that reason it would be fruitless to even enter into any negotiation."
Mr Reckless has reiterated that UKIP wants to "rebalance" immigration, which he said had held down wages for some workers and increased competition for jobs.Mr Reckless has reiterated that UKIP wants to "rebalance" immigration, which he said had held down wages for some workers and increased competition for jobs.
The Labour candidate for the seat, Naushabah Khan, says voters have more pressing issues, such as "a hospital which is failing" and "60% of our primary schools which are failing". The Labour candidate for the seat, Naushabah Khan, said voters had more pressing issues, such as "a hospital which is failing" and "60% of our primary schools which are failing".
The Liberal Democrat candidate, Geoff Juby, said his party "seem to be out on the streets a bit more" than Labour and the Conservatives.The Liberal Democrat candidate, Geoff Juby, said his party "seem to be out on the streets a bit more" than Labour and the Conservatives.
Clive Gregory, standing for the Green Party, said a vote for him would be "a good protest vote" whereas UKIP represented "the same nonsense as the Conservatives".Clive Gregory, standing for the Green Party, said a vote for him would be "a good protest vote" whereas UKIP represented "the same nonsense as the Conservatives".
The Conservatives will conduct a full postal ballot of constituents to select their candidate.The Conservatives will conduct a full postal ballot of constituents to select their candidate.
'Mutually assured destruction''Mutually assured destruction'
Asked about the national picture, Tory MP Jacob Rees Mogg renewed calls for a pact between the Conservatives and UKIP.Asked about the national picture, Tory MP Jacob Rees Mogg renewed calls for a pact between the Conservatives and UKIP.
He told the Times newspaper that the impact UKIP has had on the Labour vote in northern England had been encouraging.He told the Times newspaper that the impact UKIP has had on the Labour vote in northern England had been encouraging.
"We should think about what that means in terms of the UKIP-Conservative relationship because the Conservative family could win a majority on that basis," he said."We should think about what that means in terms of the UKIP-Conservative relationship because the Conservative family could win a majority on that basis," he said.
"Otherwise, the only thing we manage is mutually-assured destruction.""Otherwise, the only thing we manage is mutually-assured destruction."
On Friday, Prime Minister David Cameron said next year's general election would be "the most important in a generation".On Friday, Prime Minister David Cameron said next year's general election would be "the most important in a generation".
Meanwhile, Labour leader Ed Miliband said his party needed to "reach out" to disaffected voters.Meanwhile, Labour leader Ed Miliband said his party needed to "reach out" to disaffected voters.
'All bets are off''All bets are off'
He said Labour had changed and realised it was "not prejudiced" to worry about immigration, but said he did not think UKIP could "represent the interests of working people".He said Labour had changed and realised it was "not prejudiced" to worry about immigration, but said he did not think UKIP could "represent the interests of working people".
In the wake of the party's narrow victory in another by-election this week, in Heywood, several Labour MPs expressed concerns about Mr Miliband's electoral strategy.In the wake of the party's narrow victory in another by-election this week, in Heywood, several Labour MPs expressed concerns about Mr Miliband's electoral strategy.
Former pensions minister Frank Field said "very large numbers" of Labour voters were unhappy with the way the party was performing.Former pensions minister Frank Field said "very large numbers" of Labour voters were unhappy with the way the party was performing.
"If last night's vote heralds the start of UKIP's serious assault into Labour's neglected core vote, all bets are off for safer, let alone marginal seats at the next election." Mr Field said."If last night's vote heralds the start of UKIP's serious assault into Labour's neglected core vote, all bets are off for safer, let alone marginal seats at the next election." Mr Field said.
He added that "until we get that central to our message we're in trouble".He added that "until we get that central to our message we're in trouble".
In Clacton, Mr Carswell overturned a 12,068 Conservative majority in the Essex seat he had previously held as a Tory.In Clacton, Mr Carswell overturned a 12,068 Conservative majority in the Essex seat he had previously held as a Tory.
In Heywood and Middleton, Greater Manchester, Liz McInnes held on for Labour in a contest triggered by the death of the former MP, Jim Dobbin.In Heywood and Middleton, Greater Manchester, Liz McInnes held on for Labour in a contest triggered by the death of the former MP, Jim Dobbin.
She won with 11,633 votes - or 41% of the vote - with UKIP's John Bickley 617 behind - with 39% of the voteShe won with 11,633 votes - or 41% of the vote - with UKIP's John Bickley 617 behind - with 39% of the vote
Following the results, Mr Farage predicted UKIP could hold the balance of power following the next general election.Following the results, Mr Farage predicted UKIP could hold the balance of power following the next general election.
"We've got a chance here in a general election next year that is likely to be very tight, in an election in which no one party is likely to have a majority."We've got a chance here in a general election next year that is likely to be very tight, in an election in which no one party is likely to have a majority.
"If UKIP can keep this momentum going, we could find ourselves next May in a position where we hold the balance of power," he said."If UKIP can keep this momentum going, we could find ourselves next May in a position where we hold the balance of power," he said.