UKIP wins second elected MP in Rochester and Strood. Candidate endorsed by PM Cameron is defeated-BBC

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11/21/14, "UKIP's Reckless wins Rochester and Strood seat," BBC

"The UK Independence Party has its second elected MP at Westminster after Mark Reckless won the Rochester and Strood by-election by 2,920 votes.

 

Mr Reckless received 16,867 votes to the Conservative candidate Kelly Tolhurst's 13,947, with Labour's Naushabah Khan third on 6,713.

Turnout was 50.67% in the contest, which was triggered by Mr Reckless's defection to UKIP from the Tories.

Mr Reckless said: "If UKIP can win here, we can win across the country."

In his acceptance speech, Mr Reckless said Rochester and Strood had been UKIP's 271st most winnable seat.

In a message to his constituents, he said: "You remain my boss, do not let me forget it."

Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps said he was disappointed with the result but said there were "different circumstances" in a by-election.

"We will fight every single day to win this seat back," he added.

UKIP also beat the Conservatives at last month's Clacton by-election.

Prime Minister David Cameron had promised to "throw the kitchen sink" at the Rochester and Strood campaign after the defeat to another former Tory MP, Douglas Carswell, in Clacton.

UKIP's winning margin was smaller than it was in Clacton, but Mr Reckless still won 42.1% of the 40,113 votes cast.

The Green Party candidate, Clive Gregory, came fourth with 1,692 votes, and the Liberal Democrats came fifth with 349.

Elections expert Prof John Curtice, from Strathclyde University, said UKIP still faced a challenge to convert its by-election success into seats at the general election.

He said: "It's certainly a very good night for UKIP, and makes life much more difficult for the major parties, but the challenge facing UKIP is clear."

There had been speculation that more MPs would defect to UKIP in the event of a win for Nigel Farage's party.

UKIP deputy chairwoman Suzanne Evans told BBC News: "We will see if anyone else wants to come over," with Mr Reckless claiming two Conservatives had been in talks and Mr Farage saying he had discussions with Labour figures.

Labour was dealt a blow on polling day when shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry resigned from its front bench after being accused of "snobbery" by tweeting a photograph of a Rochester house displaying England flags and with a white van parked outside.

The Islington South and Finsbury MP said it had not been her intention to cause offence and stood down.

BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said the Conservatives would "take great comfort" at the front pages being dominated by Ms Thornberry's tweet rather than the Tories once again losing to UKIP."

Image: "It is UKIP's second by-election victory over the Conservatives," BBC photo

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"By Norman Smith, BBC assistant political editor

UKIP's victory was in many ways even more impressive than their triumph in Clacton. The ease with which they demolished a 9,000 Tory majority was striking and this after the Conservatives had strained every sinew to halt the UKIP bandwagon."...


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