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| Local election results 2014: Nigel Farage hails Ukip's 'political earthquake' and vows more to come | Local election results 2014: Nigel Farage hails Ukip's 'political earthquake' and vows more to come |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The three main political parties were last night assessing the damage from local elections in which they were all hit by the “political earthquake” that Nigel Farage’s Ukip promised and delivered. | The three main political parties were last night assessing the damage from local elections in which they were all hit by the “political earthquake” that Nigel Farage’s Ukip promised and delivered. |
| Mr Farage predicted that his party’s sweeping gains outside London in Thursday’s council elections in England will be matched by coming first when the results of the European Parliament poll are declared on Sunday night. | Mr Farage predicted that his party’s sweeping gains outside London in Thursday’s council elections in England will be matched by coming first when the results of the European Parliament poll are declared on Sunday night. |
| The Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats all put their best gloss on yesterday’s town hall results. But behind the scenes, they were frantically calculating the impact that the new “four-party” political landscape would have on next year’s general election. | The Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats all put their best gloss on yesterday’s town hall results. But behind the scenes, they were frantically calculating the impact that the new “four-party” political landscape would have on next year’s general election. |
| With results declared in 148 local authorities, the Conservatives had lost 187 seats and had lost control of 11 authorities. Labour gained 269 seats and six councils, while the Lib Dems lost two authorities and 268 seats. Ukip gained 153 seats. | With results declared in 148 local authorities, the Conservatives had lost 187 seats and had lost control of 11 authorities. Labour gained 269 seats and six councils, while the Lib Dems lost two authorities and 268 seats. Ukip gained 153 seats. |
| A BBC projection pointed to a hung parliament after the general election, with Mr Miliband just short of an overall majority. It gave Labour 31 per cent of the national vote, the Conservatives 29 per cent, Ukip 17 per cent, the Lib Dems 13 per cent and others 10 per cent. That would give Labour 322 seats (up 64), the Conservatives 261 (down 45) and the Lib Dems 37 (down 20). | A BBC projection pointed to a hung parliament after the general election, with Mr Miliband just short of an overall majority. It gave Labour 31 per cent of the national vote, the Conservatives 29 per cent, Ukip 17 per cent, the Lib Dems 13 per cent and others 10 per cent. That would give Labour 322 seats (up 64), the Conservatives 261 (down 45) and the Lib Dems 37 (down 20). |
| Mr Cameron rejected pressure from some Tory MPs for local pacts with Ukip. But he escaped calls for him to stand down, as Eurosceptics kept their powder dry until after the general election. | Mr Cameron rejected pressure from some Tory MPs for local pacts with Ukip. But he escaped calls for him to stand down, as Eurosceptics kept their powder dry until after the general election. |
| The Tories insist they can persuade defectors to Ukip to “come home” by presenting the election as a choice between Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband. But Tory sources admitted that 50 per cent of current Ukip supporters say they will stick with the party next year. “We don’t know how to get them back,” one said. | The Tories insist they can persuade defectors to Ukip to “come home” by presenting the election as a choice between Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband. But Tory sources admitted that 50 per cent of current Ukip supporters say they will stick with the party next year. “We don’t know how to get them back,” one said. |
| Although Labour did well in London, gaining four authorities including the Tory flagship of Hammersmith and Fulham, Mr Miliband was criticised by some Labour MPs as experts warned that the party is not on track to regain power next May. | Although Labour did well in London, gaining four authorities including the Tory flagship of Hammersmith and Fulham, Mr Miliband was criticised by some Labour MPs as experts warned that the party is not on track to regain power next May. |
| Patrick Diamond, a Downing Street policy adviser under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, told The Independent: “Outside London, Labour isn't doing well enough to be confident of an outright majority in 2015. Traditional Labour strongholds have fallen to Ukip. Southern England isn't yet swinging to Labour in big enough numbers.” | Patrick Diamond, a Downing Street policy adviser under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, told The Independent: “Outside London, Labour isn't doing well enough to be confident of an outright majority in 2015. Traditional Labour strongholds have fallen to Ukip. Southern England isn't yet swinging to Labour in big enough numbers.” |
| He added: “Labour has to refocus and fast. The 'cost of living crisis' is a good line but not enough to sustain the party through a general election campaign in which economic credibility will be everything. The party needs to build its message around the commitment to economic competence, fiscal responsibility, and a sustainable recovery which brings new jobs and new industries to every corner of the UK.” | He added: “Labour has to refocus and fast. The 'cost of living crisis' is a good line but not enough to sustain the party through a general election campaign in which economic credibility will be everything. The party needs to build its message around the commitment to economic competence, fiscal responsibility, and a sustainable recovery which brings new jobs and new industries to every corner of the UK.” |
| Mr Clegg faces calls from some Lib Dems to stand down if the party loses most of its 12 MEPs on Sunday. Today, he insisted he would not quit as he blamed the council results on a "very strong anti-politics feeling" . | Mr Clegg faces calls from some Lib Dems to stand down if the party loses most of its 12 MEPs on Sunday. Today, he insisted he would not quit as he blamed the council results on a "very strong anti-politics feeling" . |
| Ukip inflicted damage to the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems alike as it picked up a succession of seats across England, performing strongly in many of the marginal seats that will decide the outcome next May. | Ukip inflicted damage to the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems alike as it picked up a succession of seats across England, performing strongly in many of the marginal seats that will decide the outcome next May. |
| The anti-EU party scored stunning successes in Essex, gaining 11 seats in Basildon to end Tory control, and five seats in Thurrock to eject Labour from power. | The anti-EU party scored stunning successes in Essex, gaining 11 seats in Basildon to end Tory control, and five seats in Thurrock to eject Labour from power. |
| Mr Farage’s party deprived Labour of control in Great Yarmouth, where it won 10 seats, and North East Lincolnshire, where it landed seven. Ukip’s haul of six seats in Portsmouth ousted the Lib Dems from office. | Mr Farage’s party deprived Labour of control in Great Yarmouth, where it won 10 seats, and North East Lincolnshire, where it landed seven. Ukip’s haul of six seats in Portsmouth ousted the Lib Dems from office. |
| Mr Farage was also heartened by his party's ability to garner support in northern urban areas such as Rotherham, Sheffield and Oldham. | Mr Farage was also heartened by his party's ability to garner support in northern urban areas such as Rotherham, Sheffield and Oldham. |
| Speaking in Basildon, the Ukip leader predicted his party was heading towards a historic breakthrough in next year’s general election. He hinted he would contest a constituency in his home county of Kent, saying he would stand “south of the river” rather than in Essex. | Speaking in Basildon, the Ukip leader predicted his party was heading towards a historic breakthrough in next year’s general election. He hinted he would contest a constituency in his home county of Kent, saying he would stand “south of the river” rather than in Essex. |
| Mr Farage said: “There are areas of the country where now we have got an imprint in local government. Under the first past the post system we are serious players. We will see you at Westminster next year… The Ukip fox is in the Westminster henhouse.” | Mr Farage said: “There are areas of the country where now we have got an imprint in local government. Under the first past the post system we are serious players. We will see you at Westminster next year… The Ukip fox is in the Westminster henhouse.” |
| Following Sunday’s Euro results, Ukip will mount an attempt to capture the safe Tory seat of Newark in the 5 June parliamentary by-election. | Following Sunday’s Euro results, Ukip will mount an attempt to capture the safe Tory seat of Newark in the 5 June parliamentary by-election. |
| It will then seek to maintain momentum by shaking up its party structure to shed its “one-man band” image. Mr Farage will take a lower-profile role as other spokesmen and women are fielded more frequently. | It will then seek to maintain momentum by shaking up its party structure to shed its “one-man band” image. Mr Farage will take a lower-profile role as other spokesmen and women are fielded more frequently. |
| Following embarrassing disclosures about the racist and homophobic attitudes of some of its council candidates, Ukip plans even tougher testing of people who will fight the general election. | Following embarrassing disclosures about the racist and homophobic attitudes of some of its council candidates, Ukip plans even tougher testing of people who will fight the general election. |
| It is about to start work on its election manifesto to ensure it is free of some of the wilder commitments of previous Ukip policy documents. | It is about to start work on its election manifesto to ensure it is free of some of the wilder commitments of previous Ukip policy documents. |
| Rotherham comes out for Ukip | |
| In the 1980s politicians tended to look to Basildon as a pivotal constituency. Today, after Ukip’s electoral success, they might do better to focus on Rotherham, birthplace of the Chuckle Brothers. | |
| Out of the 21 seats up for grabs on Labour’s Rotherham Council stronghold, ten of them were seized by Ukip. It was a stunning result that reverberated up and down the country, masterminded at the 3 Horseshoes pub in Wickersley where the party meets on the first Tuesday of each month. | |
| “To take ten is unbelievable. But not only that, we've come so close in others losing by just a few votes,” said Craven Vines, who was returned as a Ukip councillor in the seat he first won last year in a by-election. | |
| John Healey, the Labour MP for Wentworth and Dearne on the outskirts of Rotherham, said the result was an expression of the electorate’s anger at mainstream politicians. | |
| “It's a message for all the political parties,” he said. “Wake up! People are angry. They are saying they aren't hearing enough of what they feel in what we are politicians are saying.” | |
| Lewis Smith |