P.K. Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 They have their first MP from the Clacton by-election. Douglas Carswell has been MP for the area for about 10 years so the 'swing' to UKIP of some 60% is probably not representative of the UK at large. He's very much a UKIP man though. The other by-election, Heywood and Middleton, was probably more representative. The Labour vote remained about the same at 41% but the tory vote dropped by 15% and the Lib Dems by 18% no doubt helping to boost the UKIP vote by 36% to make it a very close call. Just 600 votes in it.. I haven't the slightest doubt that the UKIP vote was enhanced by disaffected Labour voters but the Labour vote was then held up by disaffected LibDem voters. If you are a tory MP in a dodgy constituency nipping across to UKIP could be your best option of keeping those expenses rolling in.... Interesting times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolley Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 Will it be another flash in the pan like the "Gang of Four" SDP in the '80s. They were also going to break the mould. And there were four of them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.K. Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 Sure by-elections are usually protest votes but I can tell you that UKIP deployed a lot of resources. Word on the street is that come the General Election those who voted UKIP will do so again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shake me up Judy Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 Many on here predicted that UKIP wouldn't win so much as a fig roll come the General Election next May. You may want to revise your opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.K. Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 Hmmm. Maybe instead of posting "Word on the street is" I should have posted "Word on our street is..." Of course, a lot depends on the tactics the main parties use to counter the UKIP momentum. The first tory reaction seems to be "Vote UKIP - get Milliband" which is a good scare tactic relying on the "Kinnochio effect" as it is known (by me). Probably because it's difficult to use policies as a weapon when the opposition really don't have any... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 By-elections and general-elections are very different beasts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.K. Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 By-elections and general-elections are very different beasts. Not much gets past you... Care to explain? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojomonkey Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 I suspect the demographics of Clacton were a UKIP wet dream, would they be able to repeat that result in other places? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 By-elections and general-elections are very different beasts. Not much gets past you... Care to explain? I'm sure you already know...that it's a protest vote and the seat will go back at the general. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.K. Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 By-elections and general-elections are very different beasts. Not much gets past you... Care to explain? I'm sure you already know...that it's a protest vote and the seat will go back at the general. It wasn't for me but rather for all the schoolkids on Mannin who now have a vote. If I send Stu a tenner would you trust him to hold your tenner until next May? No Manx notes though, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolley Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 Carswell has a huge personal following in the constituency. He knew he was OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.K. Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 Errr excuse me but I'm hoping to fleece Albert of a tenner.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 Errr excuse me but I'm hoping to fleece Albert of a tenner....I'll take the bet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.K. Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 Errr excuse me but I'm hoping to fleece Albert of a tenner....I'll take the bet... Good man! A bit of fun never goes amiss. Just one little snag, known as a snagette, Stu is as yet unaware of his role as stakeholder. But I'm sure he won't mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 If not...I'll leave mine behind the bar at the Rovers. All winnings should be spent on real ale...not coffee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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