Thursday 04 February 2010 12:00
Con 208 (33.5; -10.6) UKIP 148 (23.8; +10.4) Lab 138 (22.2; -1.1) LD Adrian Rhodes 127 (20.5; +1.4) Majority 60 Turnout not known. Con hold Percentage change is since May 2008.
Steve, UKIP campaigned completely on national issues, they never mentioned anything going on locally ! Perhaps this is because the elected county cllr has a poor attendance record, he doesn't actually know whats going on?
If anyone is depressed about this result I suggest it's the Conservatives with a fall in the vote of 10.6%. UKIP's increase of 10.4% represents the hard work the party have put in regarding local issues. National issues like expenses do not transfer through to local elections but will when it comes to a General Election.
Don't forget that this By-Election took place in the latest blaze of publicity about MPs expenses in a Borough where UKIP gained 3 seats at the County elections in 2009. They put a lot of effort into winning and must be depressed at the result which suggests that except for the Euro-elections they will always be also-rans.