Wythenshawe and Sale East by election: Labour hold while Ukip knock Tories into third

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/poli...thenshawe.html

Blow for David Cameron as Ukip finish second in Wythenshawe

UK Independence Party push the Conservatives into third place in the Wythenshawe by-election, dealing a blow to David Cameron

Nigel Farage congratulates his party's candidate, John Bickley, (left) as he takes second place in the Wythenshawe and Sale East by-election

The UK Independence Party have dealt a blow to David Cameron by pushing the Conservatives into third place in the Wythenshawe by-election, as Labour hold the safe seat.

Mike Kane is Westminster's newest MP after taking 55 per cent of the vote in the Wythenshaw and Sale East by-election, triggered by the death of Paul Goggins.

Ukip pushed the Conservatives into third place, taking 4,301 votes.

Rev Daniel Critchlow, for the Tories, came third on 3,479 votes, and Lib Dem Mary Di Mauro, came fourth on 1,176.

In his victory speech, Mr Kane, who runs the David Miliband campaign Movement for Change, said voters had "sent a very clear message" to the Government.

"They have rejected the failed policies of the out-of-touch Tories, they have rejected the isolationism and scaremongering of Ukip.

"It's a result which emphatically demonstrates that people here know the NHS is not safe in David Cameron's hands, and that we've had enough of his utterly out-of-touch government."

Labour increased its share of the vote by 11% while Ukip's share increased by 14%.

Ukip candidate John Bickley said he was "over the moon" with the result and claimed his party was "in better shape" than the Conservatives.

He told Sky News: "We've taken votes off all of them and that includes Labour."

In the 2010 general election Ukip finished fifth in the seat, and the Tories came second.

The Liberal Democrats lost their deposit, after finishing below the 5 per cent threshold and seeing their vote share fall by 17 per cent.

It is the latest in a number of by-elections that has seen Ukip take second place, including South Shields and Eastleigh last year.

Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, said he was "very pleased" with the result.

He added: "It represents really good solid, steady progress, not an easy constituency for us, we have got no history here.

"When you start from a base of nothing and your level of public recognition is very low then to do what we have done in a very short space of time – delighted. Anything over 15% was what I was hoping for and had it been over 20%, it would have been a terrific result for us so 18%, I'm very pleased."

Mr Farage strongly criticised the way the poll was run. He said the fact that postal votes were issued just three days after the election was declared, allowing people then to cast votes, reduced the poll to a farce – and he joked he had "been on benders" longer than election campaigns that long.

Mr Farage previously complained that the election was "as dirty as they come".

Something like the 6th by-election Ukip have come second place in now... and the Liberal Democrats lost their deposit.

Thoughts?

[Inseriousity.]

Interesting turnout, will UKIP manage to do as well when it's a general election I wonder. Not surprising Lib Dems lost their deposit, I imagine they'll be wiped out next election.