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UKIP hopes for historic by-election win in Clacton UKIP hopes for historic by-election win in Clacton
(about 1 hour later)
Polls have closed for by-elections in Essex and Greater Manchester, which will be seen as key tests of public opinion ahead of the general election. Counting is under way in by-elections in Essex and Greater Manchester, which will be seen as key tests of public opinion ahead of the general election.
In Clacton, the UK Independence Party is hoping the former Conservative Douglas Carswell will be voted back in, as the first MP elected for UKIP. In Clacton, the UK Independence Party (UKIP) is hoping the former Conservative Douglas Carswell will be voted back in, as UKIP's first MP.
The Eurosceptic party also hopes for gains in Heywood and Middleton to show it can challenge Labour in the North.The Eurosceptic party also hopes for gains in Heywood and Middleton to show it can challenge Labour in the North.
The results are expected in the early hours of Friday morning.The results are expected in the early hours of Friday morning.
Mr Carswell, a Conservative MP since 2005, defected to UKIP in August, saying he did not believe Prime Minister David Cameron was "serious about the change we need" in Europe. He also resigned as an MP - triggering the by-election. UKIP deputy leader Paul Nuttall told the BBC his party was demanding a recount in Heywood and Middleton because the gap between it and Labour, which has held the seat since 1983, was only "around 600 votes". Voter turnout was 36%.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage is hoping the surprise defection will deliver his party an historic first Westminster victory - although the former Conservative MP Bob Spink briefly represented the party in 2008 before standing as an independent in 2010. 'Optimistic'
Conservative Communities Secretary Eric Pickles appeared to admit UKIP was likely to beat his party in Clacton, saying on BBC One's Question Time: "I live in optimistic hope that a Conservative will be returned tonight, but I fear I will be disappointed."Conservative Communities Secretary Eric Pickles appeared to admit UKIP was likely to beat his party in Clacton, saying on BBC One's Question Time: "I live in optimistic hope that a Conservative will be returned tonight, but I fear I will be disappointed."
UKIP tanks Mr Carswell, a Conservative MP since 2005, defected to UKIP in August. He also resigned as an MP, triggering the by-election.
Mr Carswell won the seat for the Conservatives in 2010 with 53% of the vote, with Labour on 25%. The Lib Dems came third, followed by the British National Party, Tendring First, Green Party and an independent candidate. UKIP leader Nigel Farage is hoping the surprise defection will deliver his party a historic first Westminster victory - although the former Conservative MP Bob Spink briefly represented the party in 2008 before standing as an independent in 2010.
Now standing for UKIP, he faces Andy Graham of the Liberal Democrats, Howling Laud Hope of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, independent candidates Bruce Francis Sizer and Charlotte Rose, Chris Southall of the Green Party, Conservative candidate Giles Watling, and Labour's Tim Young. Mr Carswell won Clacton for the Conservatives in 2010 with 53% of the vote and Labour on 25%.
Polls suggest Mr Carswell will keep the seat and deliver UKIP its first Westminster victory. Both the prime minister and Labour leader Ed Miliband have been on the campaign trail in the seaside town in an effort to boost their own candidates' chances. Polls suggest Mr Carswell will keep the seat - in which turnout was 51%.
Mr Farage has also warned that his party is not just a threat to the Conservatives, and is "tearing vast chunks" out of the Labour vote in the north of England and Wales. Five candidates are vying for Heywood and Middleton, which had been held by Labour MP Jim Dobbin until his death last month.
Five candidates are vying for the Heywood and Middleton seat, which had been held by Labour MP Jim Dobbin until his death last month. It has been a Labour seat since its creation, with Mr Dobbin representing it from 1997. At the 2010 general election, he took the seat with a majority of 5,971 and just over 40% of the vote. The Conservatives were second, followed by the Lib Dems, BNP, UKIP and an independent.
It has been a Labour seat since its creation in 1983 - but Mr Farage has warned Labour that he is parking his "tanks" on its "lawn". Full details of the results as they come in - and the reaction - will be on the BBC News website and the BBC News Channel throughout the night.
Mr Dobbin had represented Heywood and Middleton since 1997. At the 2010 general election, he took the seat for Labour with a majority of 5,971 and just over 40% of the vote. The Conservatives were second, followed by the Lib Dems, BNP, UKIP and an independent.
In the by-election, in which turnout was 36%, Labour candidate Liz McInnes faced John Bickley of UKIP, Conservative Iain Gartside, Abi Jackson of the Green Party and Liberal Democrat Anthony Smith.
Full details of the results as they come in - and the reaction - will be on the BBC News website and the BBC News Channel throughout the night. There will be a by-election special on BBC One with Andrew Neil from 00:20 BST on Friday.