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Anti-E.U. Party Wins 2nd Seat in Britain UKIP, Anti-E.U. Party, Wins 2nd Seat in British Parliament
(about 3 hours later)
LONDON — The populist U.K. Independence Party won its second seat in the British Parliament early Friday with a striking victory that threatened to destabilize the Conservative Party of Prime Minister David Cameron.LONDON — The populist U.K. Independence Party won its second seat in the British Parliament early Friday with a striking victory that threatened to destabilize the Conservative Party of Prime Minister David Cameron.
The right-wing party, known as UKIP, won a parliamentary by-election in Rochester and Strood in southern England, in a contest prompted by the defection of a lawmaker, Mark Reckless, from the Conservatives.The right-wing party, known as UKIP, won a parliamentary by-election in Rochester and Strood in southern England, in a contest prompted by the defection of a lawmaker, Mark Reckless, from the Conservatives.
Early Friday Mr. Reckless, who contested the seat under the colors of his new party, was declared the winner, with 16,867 votes, ahead of the Conservative Party candidate, Kelly Tolhurst, who had 13,947 votes.Early Friday Mr. Reckless, who contested the seat under the colors of his new party, was declared the winner, with 16,867 votes, ahead of the Conservative Party candidate, Kelly Tolhurst, who had 13,947 votes.
The by-election victory had been widely expected and was not by as emphatic a margin as some had predicted. Nevertheless, it delivered a blow to the governing Conservatives in a constituency they would normally expect to hold.The by-election victory had been widely expected and was not by as emphatic a margin as some had predicted. Nevertheless, it delivered a blow to the governing Conservatives in a constituency they would normally expect to hold.
Mr. Cameron, who had promised to throw everything at the contest, campaigned himself several times in Rochester and Strood and ordered ministerial colleagues to do so, too.Mr. Cameron, who had promised to throw everything at the contest, campaigned himself several times in Rochester and Strood and ordered ministerial colleagues to do so, too.
The victory suggests that UKIP has the staying power to damage mainstream parties, particularly the Conservatives, in the general election, scheduled for next May.The victory suggests that UKIP has the staying power to damage mainstream parties, particularly the Conservatives, in the general election, scheduled for next May.
The by-election result could also encourage more defections from the Tories, potentially undermining Mr. Cameron just as the British economy is recovering. On Wednesday, Mr. Reckless claimed that he had held talks with two other Conservative lawmakers who were considering switching to UKIP.The by-election result could also encourage more defections from the Tories, potentially undermining Mr. Cameron just as the British economy is recovering. On Wednesday, Mr. Reckless claimed that he had held talks with two other Conservative lawmakers who were considering switching to UKIP.
 Matthew Goodwin, professor of politics at the University of Nottingham, described a UKIP triumph as “very significant because it is six months out from a general election and in a pretty middle-of-the-road constituency.” Matthew Goodwin, professor of politics at the University of Nottingham, described a UKIP triumph as “very significant because it is six months out from a general election and in a pretty middle-of-the-road constituency.”
“Twelve months ago, the consensus was that they couldn’t win a seat at Westminster. Now they have two. People have not understood the strength of the forces driving this insurgency, built up over decades among certain groups of voters who feel they have been cut adrift,” he added.“Twelve months ago, the consensus was that they couldn’t win a seat at Westminster. Now they have two. People have not understood the strength of the forces driving this insurgency, built up over decades among certain groups of voters who feel they have been cut adrift,” he added.
The Conservatives appear most at risk from the populist party, whose success could cost Mr. Cameron crucial seats in May, but the opposition Labour Party is losing some support to UKIP, too.The Conservatives appear most at risk from the populist party, whose success could cost Mr. Cameron crucial seats in May, but the opposition Labour Party is losing some support to UKIP, too.
Labour finished third in the by-election and had a miserable night after one senior Labour lawmaker, Emily Thornberry, was accused of snobbery when she posted on Twitter a picture of a house in the Rochester and Strood constituency with three English flags of St. George and a large white van. Critics seized on the episode as evidence that Labour was losing touch with its traditional working-class supporters, and Ms Thornberry resigned late Thursday from her position as Labour spokeswoman on legal issues.Labour finished third in the by-election and had a miserable night after one senior Labour lawmaker, Emily Thornberry, was accused of snobbery when she posted on Twitter a picture of a house in the Rochester and Strood constituency with three English flags of St. George and a large white van. Critics seized on the episode as evidence that Labour was losing touch with its traditional working-class supporters, and Ms Thornberry resigned late Thursday from her position as Labour spokeswoman on legal issues.
Geoff Juby of the Liberal Democrats, who govern in coalition with the Conservatives, won just 349 votes, finishing fifth, and lost the cash deposit forfeited by candidates who fail to win 5 percent of the vote.Geoff Juby of the Liberal Democrats, who govern in coalition with the Conservatives, won just 349 votes, finishing fifth, and lost the cash deposit forfeited by candidates who fail to win 5 percent of the vote.
In response to the rise of UKIP, Mr. Cameron has already toughened his position on immigration and the European Union, the two main issues on which UKIP campaigns.In response to the rise of UKIP, Mr. Cameron has already toughened his position on immigration and the European Union, the two main issues on which UKIP campaigns.
Last year, Mr. Cameron promised that, if re-elected next year, he would hold a referendum in 2017 on whether Britain should stay in the European Union.Last year, Mr. Cameron promised that, if re-elected next year, he would hold a referendum in 2017 on whether Britain should stay in the European Union.
But last month another former Conservative lawmaker, Douglas Carswell, became UKIP’s first elected member of Parliament after he, too, quit the Conservatives to join the populists following their striking gains in local and European elections.But last month another former Conservative lawmaker, Douglas Carswell, became UKIP’s first elected member of Parliament after he, too, quit the Conservatives to join the populists following their striking gains in local and European elections.
Mr. Cameron now plans to announce new proposals to curb immigration into Britain from within the 28-nation bloc even though it guarantees free movement of people.Mr. Cameron now plans to announce new proposals to curb immigration into Britain from within the 28-nation bloc even though it guarantees free movement of people.
The issue of immigration dominated the final days of the by-election campaign, and Mr. Reckless courted controversy by appearing to suggest that some Eastern European immigrants should be forced to leave Britain after a specified period. The issue of immigration dominated the final days of the by-election campaign, and Mr. Reckless courted controversy by appearing to suggest that some Eastern European immigrants should be forced to leave Britain after a specified period. 
Speaking after being elected Mr. Reckless told supporters, “If we can win here, we can win across the country.”Speaking after being elected Mr. Reckless told supporters, “If we can win here, we can win across the country.”